Pairing Intermittent Hypoxia and Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation to Promote Arm Use After Cervical SCI

NCT ID: NCT04854057

Last Updated: 2024-01-10

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

3 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-03-03

Study Completion Date

2021-10-22

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of mild breathing bouts of low oxygen (intermittent hypoxia) combined with transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation on restoring hand function in persons with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.

Detailed Description

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The goal of this study is to determine the effectiveness of repeatedly breathing mild bouts of low oxygen for brief periods (termed acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH)) combined with non-invasive transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (TESS) on restoring hand function in persons with chronic incomplete SCI.

The fundamental hypothesis guiding this proposal is that daily AIH+TESS engage excitatory and inhibitory pathways, which converge on a common plasticity-promoting cascade that induces greater recovery of hand function than either one alone.

Both treatments appear to enhance motor function in persons with cervical SCI. Despite their independent effects on promoting functional benefits, it is not yet know if they may promote greater functional benefits when combined. To be effective as a long-term rehabilitation strategy, it is essential to determine the efficacy of combined protocols of recurring AIH+TESS.

Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injuries

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Intermittent Hypoxia (AIH) + Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation (TESS) First

Round 1 1st Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice alone for 45 mins.

Round 1 2nd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after AIH (15x 1.5 mins bouts of 10% oxygen with 1 min intervals of room air).

Round 1 3rd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after SHAM (15x 1.5 mins bouts of 21% oxygen with 1 min intervals of room air).

Washout (1 month)

Round 2 1st Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice alone for 45 mins.

Round 2 2nd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after SHAM.

Round 2 3rd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after AIH.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

AIH - Intermittent Hypoxia - hypoxia air mixture

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will breathe intermittent low oxygen via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.10±0.02 (hypoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

SHAM - Intermittent Room Air - room air mixture

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will breathe intermittent room air via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.21±0.02 (normoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

TESS - Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation + Functional Task Practice

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants will receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the cervical spinal cord using the TESCoN device developed by SpineX, Inc. Training will consist of progressive functional task practice for upper extremity motor training. A total of 24 treatment sessions, which will last 45 minutes per session, will be completed in 3 weeks (4 days/week) per crossover arm.

Intermittent Room Air (SHAM) + Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation (TESS) First

Round 1 1st Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice alone for 45 mins.

Round 1 2nd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after SHAM.

Round 1 3rd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after AIH.

Washout (1 month)

Round 2 1st Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice alone for 45 mins.

Round 2 2nd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after AIH (15x 1.5 mins bouts of 10% oxygen with 1 min intervals of room air).

Round 2 3rd Intervention (4 days): Participants receive 4 consecutive days of TESS during functional task practice for 45 mins after SHAM (15x 1.5 mins bouts of 21% oxygen with 1 min intervals of room air).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

AIH - Intermittent Hypoxia - hypoxia air mixture

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will breathe intermittent low oxygen via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.10±0.02 (hypoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

SHAM - Intermittent Room Air - room air mixture

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will breathe intermittent room air via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.21±0.02 (normoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

TESS - Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation + Functional Task Practice

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants will receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the cervical spinal cord using the TESCoN device developed by SpineX, Inc. Training will consist of progressive functional task practice for upper extremity motor training. A total of 24 treatment sessions, which will last 45 minutes per session, will be completed in 3 weeks (4 days/week) per crossover arm.

Interventions

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AIH - Intermittent Hypoxia - hypoxia air mixture

Participants will breathe intermittent low oxygen via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.10±0.02 (hypoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

Intervention Type OTHER

SHAM - Intermittent Room Air - room air mixture

Participants will breathe intermittent room air via air generators. The generators will fill reservoir bags attached to a non-rebreathing face mask. Oxygen concentration will be continuously monitored to ensure delivery of fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2)=0.21±0.02 (normoxia). Participants will receive treatment 4 times per week.

Intervention Type OTHER

TESS - Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation + Functional Task Practice

Participants will receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the cervical spinal cord using the TESCoN device developed by SpineX, Inc. Training will consist of progressive functional task practice for upper extremity motor training. A total of 24 treatment sessions, which will last 45 minutes per session, will be completed in 3 weeks (4 days/week) per crossover arm.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18 to 65 years old
* medically stable with medical clearance from physician to participate
* SCI at or below C3 and at or above C7
* non-progressive etiology of spinal injury
* American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) C-D at initial screen
* at least 1 year post-injury (chronic)
* difficulty independently performing hand functions in activities of daily living

Exclusion Criteria

* dependence on ventilation support
* implanted stimulator (e.g. diaphragm pacing by phrenic nerve stimulation, vagus nerve stimulator, pacemaker, cochlear implant, epidural stimulator, baclofen pump, etc.)
* spinal cord injury related complications including unhealed pressure sore, severe neuropathic or chronic pain syndrome, history of frequent autonomic dysreflexia, infection (e.g. urinary tract), cardiovascular disease (e.g. deep vein thrombosis), pulmonary disease, heterotopic ossification in the upper extremities, severe osteoporosis, unhealed fracture, contracture of the upper extremity joints
* received botulinum toxin injections in upper extremity muscles in the prior 6 months
* history of tendon or nerve transfer surgery in the upper extremity
* history of additional neurologic disease, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, peripheral neuropathy (diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy, etc.) or peripheral nerve injury in the upper extremity
* history of concomitant diseases that would prevent full participation in intensive exercise therapy, such as uncontrolled hypertension, rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.), pulmonary disease, active cancer, chronic contagious disease, etc.
* anticoagulation medication
* pregnancy
* history of allergic reaction or any skin reaction to use of adhesive electrodes
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Randy Trumbower, PT, PhD

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Randy Trumbower, PT, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Locations

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Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Trumbower RD, Hayes HB, Mitchell GS, Wolf SL, Stahl VA. Effects of acute intermittent hypoxia on hand use after spinal cord trauma: A preliminary study. Neurology. 2017 Oct 31;89(18):1904-1907. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004596. Epub 2017 Sep 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28972191 (View on PubMed)

Inanici F, Samejima S, Gad P, Edgerton VR, Hofstetter CP, Moritz CT. Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Stimulation Promotes Long-Term Recovery of Upper Extremity Function in Chronic Tetraplegia. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 2018 Jun;26(6):1272-1278. doi: 10.1109/TNSRE.2018.2834339.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29877852 (View on PubMed)

Hoffman L, Field-Fote E. Effects of practice combined with somatosensory or motor stimulation on hand function in persons with spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2013 Fall;19(4):288-99. doi: 10.1310/sci1904-288.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24244094 (View on PubMed)

Gad P, Lee S, Terrafranca N, Zhong H, Turner A, Gerasimenko Y, Edgerton VR. Non-Invasive Activation of Cervical Spinal Networks after Severe Paralysis. J Neurotrauma. 2018 Sep 15;35(18):2145-2158. doi: 10.1089/neu.2017.5461.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29649928 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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https://www.inspire-lab.org/

INSPIRE Lab - dedicated to inspire persons with paralysis to move again

Other Identifiers

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2020P003328

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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