Upper Extremity Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) for Restoration of Upper Extremity Function After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

NCT ID: NCT06672458

Last Updated: 2025-09-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-11-01

Study Completion Date

2029-01-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this research is to examine the effects that functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy has on the way the arms, brain and spinal cord work. The study team wants to understand what recovery looks like in persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) or peripheral nerve injury (PNI) using the MyndMove (MyndTec Inc., Ontario, Canada) therapy system. This type of therapy uses stimulation to help people with SCI and other neurological conditions to perform common tasks, work out, or strengthen muscles.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Spinal Cord Injuries Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Acute SCI Group

Individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with a neurological level at or above T1 spinal cord level; Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) A, B, C or D impairment grade; less than 6 months post injury. Participants in this group will be in the study for up to 12 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MyndMove Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. FES therapy uses surface electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions in different combinations to achieve a wide range of reaching and grasping functions. To achieve these movements the single use electrodes will be placed in various combinations on the surface of the different upper arm muscles. Participants will perform hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks while receiving FES.

Conventional Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. Conventional therapy will consist of performance hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks

MyndMove Long Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES upper arm therapy will be provided in one-hour in-person sessions for a maximum of 40 sessions delivered no less than 3 times per week and up to 5 times per week during a period of up to 12 weeks. Over the course of 40 sessions, participants will progress through various movement sequences aimed at regaining natural, unassisted voluntary movements in the affected arms while receiving FES.

Chronic SCI Group

Individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) with a neurological level at or above T1 spinal cord level; Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) A, B, C or D impairment grade; more than 6 months post injury. Participants in this group will be in the study for up to 12 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MyndMove Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. FES therapy uses surface electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions in different combinations to achieve a wide range of reaching and grasping functions. To achieve these movements the single use electrodes will be placed in various combinations on the surface of the different upper arm muscles. Participants will perform hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks while receiving FES.

Conventional Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. Conventional therapy will consist of performance hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks

MyndMove Long Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES upper arm therapy will be provided in one-hour in-person sessions for a maximum of 40 sessions delivered no less than 3 times per week and up to 5 times per week during a period of up to 12 weeks. Over the course of 40 sessions, participants will progress through various movement sequences aimed at regaining natural, unassisted voluntary movements in the affected arms while receiving FES.

Acute PNI Group

Individuals with PNI that are within 6 months pre- or post-UE nerve transfer surgery. Participants in this group will be in the study for up to 12 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MyndMove Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. FES therapy uses surface electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions in different combinations to achieve a wide range of reaching and grasping functions. To achieve these movements the single use electrodes will be placed in various combinations on the surface of the different upper arm muscles. Participants will perform hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks while receiving FES.

Conventional Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. Conventional therapy will consist of performance hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks

MyndMove Long Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES upper arm therapy will be provided in one-hour in-person sessions for a maximum of 40 sessions delivered no less than 3 times per week and up to 5 times per week during a period of up to 12 weeks. Over the course of 40 sessions, participants will progress through various movement sequences aimed at regaining natural, unassisted voluntary movements in the affected arms while receiving FES.

Chronic PNI Group

Individuals with PNI that are 6 months or more post-UE nerve transfer surgery. Participants in this group will be in the study for up to 12 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MyndMove Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. FES therapy uses surface electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions in different combinations to achieve a wide range of reaching and grasping functions. To achieve these movements the single use electrodes will be placed in various combinations on the surface of the different upper arm muscles. Participants will perform hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks while receiving FES.

Conventional Short Term Therapy

Intervention Type OTHER

Therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. Conventional therapy will consist of performance hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks

MyndMove Long Term Therapy

Intervention Type DEVICE

FES upper arm therapy will be provided in one-hour in-person sessions for a maximum of 40 sessions delivered no less than 3 times per week and up to 5 times per week during a period of up to 12 weeks. Over the course of 40 sessions, participants will progress through various movement sequences aimed at regaining natural, unassisted voluntary movements in the affected arms while receiving FES.

Interventions

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MyndMove Short Term Therapy

FES therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. FES therapy uses surface electrical stimulation to produce muscle contractions in different combinations to achieve a wide range of reaching and grasping functions. To achieve these movements the single use electrodes will be placed in various combinations on the surface of the different upper arm muscles. Participants will perform hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks while receiving FES.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Conventional Short Term Therapy

Therapy will be provided in one visit (one hour duration) delivered within a 2 week period, in person. Conventional therapy will consist of performance hand and finger dexterity tests as well as arm functional mobility tasks

Intervention Type OTHER

MyndMove Long Term Therapy

FES upper arm therapy will be provided in one-hour in-person sessions for a maximum of 40 sessions delivered no less than 3 times per week and up to 5 times per week during a period of up to 12 weeks. Over the course of 40 sessions, participants will progress through various movement sequences aimed at regaining natural, unassisted voluntary movements in the affected arms while receiving FES.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1\. Neurological Injury:

1. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI): neurological level at or above T1 spinal cord level; AIS A, B, C or D impairment grade

* Group 1 (Acute SCI): Deemed medically stable by medical practitioner, less than 6 months post-injury.
* Group 2 (Chronic SCI): More than 6 months post-injury.

or
2. Peripheral nerve injury (PNI), with or without SCI, who are pre- or post- upper extremity (UE) nerve transfer surgery

* Group 3 (Acute Pre- or Post-UE nerve transfer surgery): Deemed medically stable and safe/appropriate to participate in MyndMove UE FES therapy intervention by referring neurosurgeon within 6 months pre- or post-UE nerve transfer surgery.
* Group 4 (Chronic Post-UE nerve transfer surgery): Deemed medically stable and safe/appropriate to participate in MyndMove UE FES therapy intervention by referring neurosurgeon 6 months or more post-UE nerve transfer surgery.

3\. Has detectable residual connection in upper-limb muscles in at least one of the neurologically affected sides confirmed by a visible contraction when functional electrical stimulation (FES) is applied in at least one upper extremity muscle at baseline.

4\. Has detectable motor function in at least 1 upper extremity muscle on 1 neurologically affected side confirmed by voluntary electromyography (EMG) or detectable motor evoked potential (MEP) at the baseline assessment. 5. (Aim 2 only) Able to commit to intervention and assessment sessions over a maximum duration of 4 months.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Traumatic brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, or other disorders that could affect neuromotor function.
2. Severe spasticity that could prevent the study protocol as determined by the investigator.
3. Major executive dysfunction, dementia, depression, neurocognitive impairments, or other major medical co-morbidities.
4. Has contraindications for transcutaneous stimulation using FES such as breakdown of skin in the area that will come into contact with electrodes, thrombosis, or skin disease
5. Poorly managed autonomic dysreflexia that could be triggered by FES.
6. Unhealed upper extremity fracture, contracture, or pressure sore.
7. Implanted neurostimulator (e.g., deep brain stimulation (DBS), epidural/subdural, vagal nerve stimulation (VNS))
8. Cardiac pacemaker or intracardiac lines.
9. Individuals who require therapy or other care that could interfere with participation in the study.
10. Individuals on investigational drugs or any other intervention known to have a potential impact on neuromotor function.
11. Individuals with substance disorders, including alcoholism and drug abuse.
12. Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or the desire to become pregnant during the study.
13. In the opinion of the investigators, the study is not safe or appropriate for the participant.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Miami

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Matija Milosevic

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Matija Milosevic, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Miami

Locations

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University of Miami - Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

Miami, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Cristina Thurston, DPT

Role: CONTACT

(305) 243-9301

Deena Cilien, DPT

Role: CONTACT

(305) 243-9301

Facility Contacts

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Matija Milosevic, PhD

Role: primary

(305) 243-3572

Deena Cilien, DPT

Role: backup

(305) 243-9301

Other Identifiers

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20240966

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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