NCT04238013

Neuromodulation of Ankle Muscles in Persons With SCI

Influence of Whole Body Vibration on Neuromodulation of Ankle Muscles in Persons With SCI

• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 1 (actual)
• Sponsor: Shepherd Center, Atlanta GA · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The ability to voluntarily move the ankles is important for walking. After spinal cord injury (SCI), this ability is impaired because of changes in the communication between the brain, spinal cord, and body. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a treatment that increases voluntary muscle control and decreases uncontrollable muscle movement in people with SCI. The purpose of this study is to understand how WBV can impact ankle control and uncontrollable muscle movement.

Detailed description

Spinal cord injury can result in impaired walking ability and decreased independence in daily activities such as standing and transfers. The ability to voluntarily control the ankle muscles is an important component of walking that is impacted by changes in the corticospinal tract and the spinal reflex circuits. These changes have been associated with the inability to dorsiflex the ankle during swing phase (foot drop) and uncontrollable muscle spasms and stiffness in the ankle during terminal stance (spasticity), as well as during transfers. In order to improve functional outcomes and further develop rehabilitation techniques, the underlying contributions of the corticospinal tract and spinal reflex circuit to ankle control needs to be better understood. Non-invasive tools that target the corticospinal and spinal reflex circuit are being used in clinical settings in order to improve functional outcomes in persons with spinal cord injury. Whole body vibration (WBV) is a non-invasive tool that has been shown to increase voluntary motor output and decrease spasticity in persons with spinal cord injury. These improvements in function may be due to changes in the corticospinal tract and spinal reflex circuits. In order to determine the relative contributions of the corticospinal tract and spinal reflex circuits to increased voluntary ankle control and decreased spasticity, we will measure changes in the corticospinal tract and spinal reflex excitability before and after a single session of vibration. We will then determine which change (corticospinal or spinal) contributes more to increased voluntary ankle control and decreased spasticity. This information will help guide future research to further improve walking ability in persons with spinal cord injury.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Spastic Gait
• Foot Drop

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Whole Body Vibration (WBV)	The WBV session will consist of 8 bouts of 45s vibration (50Hz) with a minute of rest in between each bout.
OTHER	Electrical Stimulation	The electrical stimulation intervention serves to account for any effects of standing and/or of repeated performance of the sit-to-stand behavior on neurophysiological outcomes. In the electrical stimulation intervention, participants will receive electrical stimulation while standing on the vibration platform for 8 bouts for 45s with a minute of rest in between without vibration.

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-07-06
• Primary completion: 2021-07-09
• Completion: 2021-07-09
• First posted: 2020-01-23
• Last updated: 2022-06-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States