NCT07099911

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Glucose Control in Spinal Cord Injury

Novel Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Improve Glucose Control in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Bath · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Overall aim: To identify the impact and acceptability of a novel method of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for improving glucose control using a dual stable isotope tracer OGTT in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective 1: 1. To establish the extent to which an acute bout of NMES improves health-related measures of glucose control, compared to a SHAM control trial. 2. To identify the relative magnitude of effect, compared to non-injured control participants (CON). Hypotheses: 1. NMES will be more effective at improving glucose control by increasing peripheral glucose uptake, relative to SHAM condition. 2. The effect will be greater in individuals with SCI compared to non-injured control participants. Objective 2: To investigate the real-world feasibility of NMES as a therapeutic intervention, participants with SCI will be given instructions for 2-weeks of at-home use. In-depth interviews will be conducted to evaluate acceptability and identify areas that could be adapted to effectively implement NMES in a future trial. Participants will complete two experimental trials in a randomised crossover fashion separated by 7 days which will consist of either a sham control (SHAM) or an acute bout of NMES during a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Following the experimental trial days, participants with SCI will take home a NMES device and will be given instructions for 2-weeks of at-home NMES use (Figure 1) to assess acceptability and feasibility.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	NMES	Acute bout of neuromuscular electrical stimulation during a 3-h OGTT.
BEHAVIORAL	Sham (No Treatment)	Sham stimulation during a 3-h OGTT.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-08
• Primary completion: 2026-09-01
• Completion: 2027-09-01
• First posted: 2025-08-01
• Last updated: 2025-08-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom