Intermittent Hypoxia and Upper Extremity EMG Recordings in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries
• Interventions: Other: Acute Intermittent Hypoxia

• Registration Number: NCT05513911
• Lead Sponsor: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Brief Summary

In this current study, the examiners examine some of the mechanisms of how Acute Intermittent Hypoxia (AIH) effects the upper extremity of survivors of spinal cord injury. This is accomplished both with the use of a load cell to determine elbow strength changes and high density grid electromyography (EMG) to record bicep muscle activations before and after bouts of AIH

Detailed Description

It has been shown previously that there is an increase in strength in survivors of spinal cord injury after brief bouts of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia. In this study, participants are fitted with a high density EMG electrode on the biceps brachii, and attached to a load cell at the wrist, they are asked to flex and extend their elbow at various levels of intensity. This is performed before and after the 30 minute session of AIH. The investigators hope to identify specific types of motor units of the upper extremity of survivors of spinal cord injury after AIH to help further our understanding of what mechanisms may be causing the known increase in muscle strength post AIH

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-02-03
• Primary Completion: 2016-11-08
• Study Completion: 2019-03-25
• Status Verified: 2022-08
• Study First Submitted: 2022-08-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-08-22
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-08-22
• Study First Posted: 2022-08-24
• Last Update Posted: 2022-08-24

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 8

Inclusion Criteria

• History of Spinal Cord Injury from C3-T4
• Non-progressive spinal cord injury
• More than 6 months since initial Spinal Cord injury
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of any of the following medical conditions: Congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, uncontrolled high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, COPD/emphysema and severe asthma
• Persons with known coronary artery disease, a history of myocardial infarction, or known carotid or intracerebral artery stenosis
• Medical clearance will be required if participant is taking any other investigational agents
• Women who are pregnant or nursing
• Individuals with tracheostomy
• Cannot pursue other research studies which may interfere
• Unable to consent
• Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)
• Prisoners

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Acute intermittent Hypoxia Therapy	Acute Intermittent Hypoxia	This group will receive the acute intermittent hypoxia therapy (9% O2) for 30 minutes. Before and after the intervention the participant will perform flexion of the elbow at various levels of intensity

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Maximal Elbow Strength [Newtons]	30 minutes Post intervention	Recordings of the elbow joint torque are taken while the participant is asked to flex and extend the elbow voluntarily at a maximum level of intensity

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Biceps Brachii Muscle activation [μv]	30 minutes post intervention	Peak electromyographic activation of the biceps brachii muscle during maximum voluntary flexion and extension tasks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States