Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Exercise to Prevent Cardiopulmonary Declines in High-level Spinal Cord Injury

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries
• Interventions: Drug: Buspirone Hydrochloride; Drug: Buspirone placebo; Device: Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV); Device: Sham Non-invasive ventilation (NIV); Other: Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT)

• Registration Number: NCT04458324
• Lead Sponsor: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Brief Summary

Over the past ten years, the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at Spaulding has refined a unique form of exercise for those with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT) couples volitional arm and electrically controlled leg exercise, resulting in the benefits of large muscle mass exercise. However, despite the potential for enhancing aerobic capacity by training the denervated leg skeletal muscle via hybrid FES exercise, the inability to increase ventilation beyond limits set by high level SCI restricts aerobic capacity.

This research study will investigate two potential methods of improving ventilation in those with high-level SCI through a double-blind randomized trial. One method is non-invasive ventilation (NIV), which is an external breathing support machine. The second method is the use of Buspar, a drug, which has been used to treat respiratory dysfunction after SCI in rats and some human case reports.

In this study, participants will engage in a 6-month FES row training program while receiving either NIV or shamNIV and Buspar or placebo, and under study tests to evaluate cardiopulmonary health and fitness.

Detailed Description

Regular aerobic exercise with sufficient intensity can improve overall health, however daily energy expenditure is low in those with SCI, especially in those with high level lesions. The investigators have developed Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT) that couples volitional arm and electrically controlled leg exercise, increasing the active muscle and resulting in benefits of large muscle mass exercise. Despite the potential for enhancing aerobic capacity, those with high level lesions (T3 and above) have a remaining obstacle to attaining higher work capacities: a level of pulmonary muscle denervation. The investigators preliminary work suggests this limits the aerobic capacity that can be achieved with FESRT.

External ventilatory support could improve the ability to exercise train and hence enhance the adaptations to chronic exercise in high level SCI. Non invasive ventilation (NIV) during exercise training has been shown to improve gains in exercise capacity in those with similarly restrictive breathing. Therefore, the investigators hypothesize that the use of NIV during FESRT will reduce ventilatory limits to exercise, leading to increased aerobic capacity in high level SCI. In addition, pharmacologic treatments may augment respiratory control and improve exercise ventilatory responses. Buspirone can reverse respiratory abnormalities consequent to SCI in rats, and humans case reports suggest successful Buspirone treatment of respiratory dysfunction

Therefore, the investigators propose a double-blind 2x2 trial of 6 months of FESRT with NIV or Sham and Buspirone or Placebo in individuals with acute, high-level SCI. The investigators hypothesize that both NIV and Buspirone will improve ventilatory exercise responses and that combined treatment will have the greatest effect. This will result in greater improvements in aerobic capacity and concomitant increases in pulmonary function and reductions in cardiometabolic risk. This work proposes two approaches to overcome ventilatory limitations to exercise in high level SCI and allow for greater improvements in cardiopulmonary capacity - one that overcomes mechanical limitations of paralyzed pulmonary musculature and one that treats loss of serotonergic respiratory control, both of which may contribute to blunted ventilatory responses. The ultimate purpose of this research is to optimize exercise for a population that both needs and seeks the broad range of benefits that exercise can confer.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-06-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-07-01
• Study First Posted: 2020-07-07
• Study Start: 2020-12-22
• Status Verified: 2023-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-01-03
• Last Update Posted: 2023-01-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-07-31
• Study Completion: 2026-07-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

Inclusion Criteria

• SCI outpatients aged 18-45 years
• medically stable
• body mass index 18.5-30 kg/m2 to include normal to overweight but not obese individuals
• 3-months to 6-years post-injury
• ASIA Scale A, B, or C injury at or above neurological level T4
• able to follow directions
• wheelchair users
• leg muscles responsive to stimulation

Exclusion Criteria

• BP >140/90 mmHg to exclude for hypertension (though rare in those with high level SCI)
• current tobacco users
• significant arrhythmias
• coronary disease
• diabetes
• renal disease
• cancer
• epilepsy
• current use of cardioactive medications (except medication to support blood pressure)
• current grade 2 or greater pressure ulcers at relevant contact sites
• other neurological disease
• peripheral nerve compressions or rotator cuff tears that limit the ability to row
• history of bleeding disorders
• current use of buspirone
• pregnancy
• contraindications to Buspirone (taking MAO inhibitors, known hypersensitivity to buspirone, benzodiazepine dependence, akathisia, renal impairment, hepatic disease)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
NIV + Buspar	Buspirone Hydrochloride	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking Buspar.
NIV + Buspar	Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking Buspar.
NIV + Buspar	Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking Buspar.
NIV + placebo	Buspirone placebo	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking placebo.
NIV + placebo	Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking placebo.
NIV + placebo	Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving NIV and taking placebo.
sham NIV + Buspar	Buspirone Hydrochloride	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking Buspar.
sham NIV + Buspar	Sham Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking Buspar.
sham NIV + placebo	Sham Non-invasive ventilation (NIV)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking placebo.
sham NIV + Buspar	Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking Buspar.
sham NIV + placebo	Buspirone placebo	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking placebo.
sham NIV + placebo	Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT)	Subjects will perform 6 months of FES-row-training while receiving sham NIV and taking placebo.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in baseline aerobic exercise capacity	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Participants perform incremental FES rowing exercise test to determine maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 peak)
Change in baseline ventilation during exercise	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Participants perform incremental FES rowing exercise test to determine ventilation during exercise (VE peak).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in glucoregulatory status	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Blood will be taken via standard venipuncture to measure hemoglobin A1c.
Change from baseline in serum lipids	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Blood will be taken via standard venipuncture to measure triglycerides.
Change from baseline in visceral adiposity	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	The investigators will use a 5th generation General Electric Healthcare dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner for regional fat measurements, the DXA software can be used to define standard regions that will allow comparability of measurements throughout the study.
Change in baseline forced vital capacity	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Spirometry will be used to measure lung function, specifically forced vital capacity (FVC).
Change in baseline maximal voluntary ventilation	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Spirometry will be used to measure lung function, specifically maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV).
Change in baseline forced expiratory capacity in the first second	Baseline, 3 months, 6 months	Spirometry will be used to measure lung function, specifically forced expiratory capacity in the first second (FEV1).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Spaulding Hospital Cambridge; 🇺🇸 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States