Mayo Clinic
The purpose of this research is to learn about how the participant's body is able to balance changes in blood pressure, and how spinal cord stimulation affects these changes as well as immune \& cardiovascular function in participants with spinal cord injury.
Inclusion criteria * Age 18-50. * American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-D,64 to encompass a representational spectrum of autonomic dysfunction after spinal cord injury. * Neurological level of injury, C6-T8, as defined by the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury.64 Incorporating level of injury over this broad range to capture the spectrum of autonomic dysfunction. Individuals with injuries below T8 will not be included to ensure transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation does not occur over the injury/glial scar, where it may have altered…
Bolus phenylephrine infusion using the Oxford technique will generate the need to inhibit sympathetic activity. Similarly, resting state Mayer waves will be assessed with regard to heart rate and blood pressure responses.
Cold pressor test of the hand will be used to cause sympathetic activation. Valsalva's maneuver will assess the ability to buffer against blood pressure fall (phase II).
Cold pressor test of the foot and bladder pressor response (in individuals with SCI) will be tested.
Currently implanted epidural stimulation will be used during diagnostic testing.
Transcutaneous stimulation will be used for participants with spinal cord injury without an implanted stimulator during diagnostic testing.
Arctuva estimate
Verify or correct the compensation shown for this listing.