Operant Conditioning of Spinal Reflexes to Enhance Motor Function Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
Medical University of South Carolina
Summary
The purpose of this study is to validate the capacity of a reflex training system to change the size of the targeted reflex. For this, the researchers are recruiting 25 individuals with chronic incomplete SCI who have spasticity in the leg to participate in the reflex training procedure. The study involves approximately 45 visits with a total study duration of about 6 months.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. a clinically stable spinal cord injury (above T11) that occurred at least one year previously 2. the ability to ambulate at least 10 m with or without an assistive device (i.e., walker, crutches, or cane, not parallel bars) within 100 sec (those with 10-meter walking time \>100 sec are excluded because it is unlikely that they are able to participate in and complete our planned locomotion evaluation procedures) 3. clinical signs of spasticity in the plantarflexor muscles at least unilaterally (i.e., hyperreactivity to Achilles tendon tap, and increased muscle tone, scor…
Interventions
- BehavioralSpinal Reflex Operant Down Conditioning
This is a training intervention in which people with a spinal cord injury are trained to reduce the activity of a certain spinal reflex. By decreasing this reflex, individuals decrease hyperactivity in the reflex and can reduce spasticity.
Locations (2)
- Medical University of South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
- Medical University of South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina