Grasping Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injury

• Registration Number: NCT03447509
• Lead Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Brief Summary

The overall goals of this proposal are to examine the contribution of physiological pathways to the control of grasping behaviors after cervical SCI, and to maximize the recovery of grasping by using tailored non-invasive brain stimulation and acoustic startle protocols with motor training. The investigators propose to study two basic grasping behaviors, which are largely used in most daily-life activities: a precision grip and a power grip.

Detailed Description

Grasping behaviors, which are essential for daily-life functions, are largely impaired in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Although rehabilitative interventions have shown success in improving the ability to grasp following injury their overall effects remain limited. The goals of this proposal are to examine the contribution of physiological pathways to the control of grasping behaviors after cervical SCI, and to maximize the recovery of grasping by using tailored non-invasive stimulation protocols with motor training. The investigators propose to study two basic grasping behaviors: a precision grip and a power grip. These behaviors are crucial because they provide the basis for a number human prehensile manipulations and are also necessary skills for eating, writing, dressing, and many other functions. Thus, the study results may have a direct impact on the quality of life for Veterans and their caregivers by enhancing their independence and level of care.

In Aim 1, the investigators will investigate the contribution of corticospinal and brainstem pathways to the control of hand muscles involved in precision and power grip after cervical SCI. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will be used to examine transmission in corticospinal and intracortical pathways targeting finger muscles and an acoustic startle stimulus with and without TMS will be used to examine the contribution from brainstem pathways.

In Aim 2, the investigators propose to enhance the recovery of grasping by using novel tailored protocols of non-invasive repetitive TMS targeting late indirect (I) descending volleys (iTMS) and an acoustic startle stimuli. iTMS and startle will be used during precision and power grip movements in a task-dependent manner to induce cortical and subcortical plasticity and enhance voluntary output of hand muscles. Later, iTMS and startle will be applied in a task-dependent manner during a motor training task that involves precision and power grip. These unique approaches aim at promoting neuroplasticity during functionally relevant grasping movements has not been used before.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-01-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-02-20
• Study First Posted: 2018-02-27
• Study Start: 2020-03-17
• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-25
• Last Update Posted: 2025-06-29
• Primary Completion: 2025-06-30
• Study Completion: 2025-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

Participants who are unimpaired healthy controls:

• Male and females between ages 18-85 years
• Right handed
• Able to complete precision grips with both hands
• Able to complete full wrist flexion-extension bilaterally

Participants who have had a spinal cord injury:

• Male and females between ages 18-85 years
• Chronic SCI (> 1 year post injury)
• Spinal Cord injury at C8 or above
• Intact or impaired but not absent innervations in dermatomes C6. C7 and C8 during light touch and pin prick stimulus using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) sensory scores
• The ability to produce a visible precision grip force with one hand
• Able to perform some small wrist flexion and extension
• ASIA A,B,C, or D

Exclusion Criteria

Exclusion criteria for enrollment For SCI and Healthy Control Subjects (4-8 exclusion for non-invasive brain stimulation only):

• Uncontrolled medical problems including pulmonary, cardiovascular or orthopedic disease
• Any debilitating disease prior to the SCI that caused exercise intolerance
• Premorbid, ongoing major depression or psychosis, altered cognitive status
• History of head injury or stroke
• Pacemaker
• Metal plate in skull
• History of seizures
• Receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold
• Pregnant females
• Ongoing cord compression or a syrinx in the spinal cord or who suffer from a spinal cord disease such as spinal stenosis, spina bifida, MS, or herniated disk

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in amplitude of Motor evoked potential size	Post treatment at minute 0, minute 10, minute30, minute 60.	At the stated minute interval TMS measurements are reassessed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Grip Strength and 9-hole peg test	Post treatment at minute 0, minute 10, minute30, minute 60.	At the stated minute interval the following measurements are reassessed: Force is measured during a grip task as muscle electrical activity (electromyography) is recorded in millivolts (mV) and 9-hole peg test is a dexterity measure, estimated as the time required to complete the task (seconds).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL; 🇺🇸 Hines, Illinois, United States