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Electrical Stimulation

Non-Invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation for Spinal Cord Injury

N/A
Recruiting
Led By Alexander Ovechkin, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by University of Louisville
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
FVC and FEV1 values 80% of predicted or above indicating healthy pulmonary function by screening spirometry
At least 21 years of age at the time of enrollment
Must not have
Unhealed fracture
Untreated musculoskeletal dysfunction
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Awards & highlights

Summary

This trial is testing different ways to help people with spinal cord injuries breathe better. It will compare task-specific training (like respiratory or arm exercises) with non-task-specific stimulation (like electrical stimulation of the spinal cord) to see which is more effective.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with stable, non-progressive spinal cord injuries at T5 or above, who've had the injury for over a year and have reduced lung function. It's not suitable for those with untreated musculoskeletal issues, fractures, contractures, sores, ventilator dependence, severe mental health issues or substance abuse problems.Check my eligibility
What is being tested?
The study tests how different combinations of respiratory training and electrical stimulation affect lung and muscle function in people with spinal cord injuries. The effectiveness of these therapies will be measured by changes in lung capacity and trunk muscle performance.See study design
What are the potential side effects?
While specific side effects are not detailed here, transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation may cause discomfort or skin irritation where the electrodes are placed. Muscle fatigue could also occur from the training exercises.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My lung function tests show healthy breathing capacity.
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I am 21 years old or older.
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I am 18 years old or older.
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My spinal cord injury is above T5 and not getting worse.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have a bone that hasn't healed yet.
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I have not received treatment for a muscle or joint problem.
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I have a contracture or pressure sore that hasn't been treated.
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I have a significant disease affecting my esophagus or digestive system.
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I rely on a machine to help me breathe.
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I have a serious lung or heart condition.
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I have a history of heart disease.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~through study completion, an average of 1 year.
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and through study completion, an average of 1 year. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Maximum airway pressure
Non-invasive respiratory electromyography
Spirometry
Secondary outcome measures
Aerobic Endurance Test (VO2Peak)
Beat-by-beat arterial blood pressure
Functional Neurophysiological Assessment (FNPA)
+4 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) intervention groupsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The respiratory training (RT) group (n=6) will receive the respiratory training intervention only); the transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TcESCS) group (n=6) will receive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation only; TcESCS + RT group (n=6) will receive TcESCS combined with RT; TcESCS + Arm Training (AT) group (n=6) will receive TcESCS combined with AT; and TcESCS + Trunk Training (TT) group (n=6) will receive TcESCS combined with TT.
Group II: Non-Disabled (ND) and Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) controlsExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The ND Control group (n=6) and SCI Control group (n=6) will be used to assess related values as acute effects of transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TcESCS) itself and will not receive any training intervention. The ND group will receive baseline assessments, then up to 12 (4-Respiratory function, 4-Arm function, and 4-Trunk function) TcESCS mapping experiments, followed by repeating the assessments in the presence of TcESCS. The investigators will decide which stimulation type should be used for the post-mapping assessments.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of LouisvilleLead Sponsor
340 Previous Clinical Trials
77,334 Total Patients Enrolled
Alexander Ovechkin, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of Louisville
3 Previous Clinical Trials
126 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation (TcESCS) (Electrical Stimulation) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03998527 — N/A
Spinal Cord Injury Research Study Groups: Non-Disabled (ND) and Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) controls, Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) intervention groups
Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Trial 2023: Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation (TcESCS) Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03998527 — N/A
Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation (TcESCS) (Electrical Stimulation) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03998527 — N/A
~17 spots leftby Dec 2029