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Study on Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling Following Spinal Cord Injury

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
Spinal Cord Injury
Interventions
Device: FES Cycling
Device: Cycling without FES
Procedure: Lumbar puncture
Behavioral: Mood assessment
Registration Number
NCT01217047
Lead Sponsor
Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Brief Summary

This research is being done to study the effect of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling on factors in blood and spinal cord in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Detailed Description

FES cycling is a method of applying low level electrical currents to the leg and buttock muscles to cause the weakened or paralyzed muscles to contract and produce a cycling motion of the legs. The FES cycling in this study will be done through a device called the RT300-SL Cycle Ergometer. Although this device has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by individuals with spinal cord injury, we are trying to find out the best way to use it in order to obtain the greatest benefits in an attempt to improve functional recovery.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
11
Inclusion Criteria
  • History of traumatic spinal cord injury sustained at least 6 months prior
  • Complete spinal cord injury at any level American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale A
  • No use of functional electrical stimulation within 3 months
  • Medically stable, with no recent (1 month or less) inpatient admission for acute medical or surgical issues
  • Legally able to make own health care decisions
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cardiovascular disease as defined by previous myocardial infarction, unstable angina, requirement for anti platelet agents, congestive heart failure, or stroke, history of arrhythmia with hemodynamic instability
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (resting systolic blood pressure (BP) >160mmHg or diastolic BP >100mmHg consistently)
  • Concurrent lower motor neuron disease such as peripheral neuropathy that would exclude lower extremity electrical excitability
  • Unstable long bone fractures of the lower extremities
  • Subjects who are unwilling to agree to two (2) CSF examinations (lumbar punctures)
  • Presence of cardiac pacemaker and/or defibrillator
  • Presence of cancer
  • History of epileptic seizures
  • Subjects having a Stage 2 or greater sacral decubitus ulcer
  • Women who are pregnant
  • Active drug or alcohol use or dependence

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Group AMood assessmentFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI one (1) time per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group DLumbar punctureFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform cycling without FES for 1 hour each.
Group ALumbar punctureFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI one (1) time per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group AFES CyclingFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI one (1) time per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group BFES CyclingFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group BLumbar punctureFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group CLumbar punctureFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI five (5) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group CMood assessmentFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI five (5) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group BMood assessmentFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group CFES CyclingFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI five (5) times per week during which you will perform FES cycling for 1 hour each.
Group DCycling without FESFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform cycling without FES for 1 hour each.
Group DMood assessmentFor 3 weeks, you will need to come to the ICSCI three (3) times per week during which you will perform cycling without FES for 1 hour each.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
CSF Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) LevelAt 3 weeks

We will quantify levels of BDNF in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using immunohistochemical quantification methods.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mood Assessment3 weeks

We will assess mood daily on a Likert scale from 1 (low) to 10 (high) using "Mood24/7" (http://www.mood247.com).

Serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) LevelAt 3 weeks

We will quantify levels of BDNF in the serum/blood using immunohistochemical quantification methods.

CSF Growth Factor QuantificationAt 3 weeks

We will quantify levels of neurotrophin-3 (NT3), neurotrophin-4 (NT4), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using immunohistochemical quantification methods.

Spasticity Testing Using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS)At 3 weeks

The MAS is a widely used neurological rating scale, ranging from 0 (normal) to 5. It measures neurological impairment and disability based on the ratings of an observer or neurologist through structured definitions.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Kennedy Krieger Institute

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Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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