Autonomic Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Summary
The goal of this interventional crossover study is to determine the effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) on the ability to perform moderate exercise and regulate core body temperature in the chronic spinal cord injury community. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the effects of active TSCS targeted for BP control on exercise endurance time and HR recovery during submaximal arm cycle ergometry (ACE) as compared to sham TSCS in participants with chronic, cervical SCI? * What are the effects of active TSCS on Tcore responses to cool ambient exposure and on subjective reporting of thermal comfort and thermal sensitivity as compared to sham TSCS. Participants will receive sham and active stimulation while using an arm bicycle or while in a cold room. Participants are free to participate in either the exercise phase, the cold room phase, or both phases of this study. Please note that there no expected long term benefits of this study.
Description
The purpose of the first part of this research study is to determine the effects of active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) targeted for blood pressure (BP) control on exercise endurance time and heart rate (HR) recovery time during an arm cycle test. The results will help guide experimental studies aimed at improving exercise, rehabilitation, health, and longevity in the SCI population. If the participant chooses to participate in part one of this study, the participant will be asked to visit the laboratory for 2 visits that take about 3-4 hours each. The purpose of part two of…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * You are above the age of 18 years old * You have an SCI between C3-T6 * You have been injured longer than 1 year * You participated in a prior experiment "Targeted Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Restore Autonomic Cardiovascular Health in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury" * You have an American Spinal Injury Association injury classification scale (AIS) A, B, C * Your prescription medications have not changed for at least 30 days Exclusion Criteria: * You have a history of seizures * You have an acute illness or infection * You have diabetes * You have unt…
Interventions
- OtherTranscutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS)
This is electrical stimulation delivered to the spinal cord through the skin and tissue using a cathode electrode to deliver the stimulation and anode electrodes to ground the circuit.
- OtherSham Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation
This is designed to appear like transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation without actually delivering the stimulation.
Location
- James J Peters VAMCThe Bronx, New York