Activity Dependent Rehabilitation Model to Improve Bone and Muscle Outcomes

Summary

For many after spinal cord injury (SCI) there is immobilization, muscle atrophy, bone loss, fracture risk during transferring (or falls), and the risk of secondary complications, and increase in attendance care and cost. It is important to develop multi dimensional rehabilitation strategies for people after SCI to enhance functional recovery towards walking, and enhance an increase in muscle and bone to potentially prepare the injured nervous system in the event of a cure. Locomotor training (Stand retraining and step re training) an activity-based rehabilitative approach generates muscle activity and provides weight bearing and joint contact kinetics, even in individuals who are unable to stand or step independently. Cross-sectional animal and human SCI studies have demonstrated that locomotor training (LT) (stand retraining and step retraining using body weight support treadmill training) has improved the capacity to stand independently and walk at faster speeds. Neuromuscular stimulation (NMS) or electrical stimulation (ES) training is a rehabilitative approach that generates muscle activity, alternating leg extension and flexion even in individuals who are unable to stand or step independently. NMS studies for individuals after SCI have shown improvements in bone density and muscle strength after cycling and resistance training. The main purpose of this study is to address whether stand retraining and NMS compared to stand retraining alone or NMS alone will increase neural and musculoskeletal gains and provide a greater functional recovery towards independent standing.

This project will be completed at two sites: Kessler Foundation Research Center (the grant PI site) and Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Conditions

• Disuse Osteoporosis
• Atrophy, Disuse
• Nervous System
• Structural; Marker
• Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy

Interventions

OTHER

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is a rehabilitative approach that generates muscle activity by alternating leg extension and flexion even in individuals who are unable to stand or step independently. Electrical stimulation will be applied to multiple muscles of the lower limb.

OTHER

Stand Retraining with Body Weight Support (BWS)

Locomotor training consists of (step training and stand retraining) on the treadmill, over ground training, and community ambulation. BWS will be given when a subject can not maintain his/her body weight while executing limb locomotion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Craig H. Neilsen Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Kessler Foundation

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gail Forrest, Ph.D · Kessler Foundation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

58 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2006-12-31

Primary Completion

2017-12-31

Completion

2018-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations