Quality Living, Inc.
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the effect of treatment frequency on the physical recovery of adults with incomplete spinal cord injury. The treatment will last for eight weeks and will occur either either two or three times weekly. The main research questions are: 1. How do changes in muscle strength compare between participants who receive eight weeks of blood flow-restricted exercise two times vs. three times weekly? 2. How do changes in the level of independence performing a selected functional task compare between participants who receive eight weeks of treatment two times vs. three times weekly? 3. How do changes in the perceived exertion needed to perform a functional task compare between participants who receive eight weeks of treatment two times vs. three times weekly? The researchers will compare people receiving treatment two vs. three times per week to see if they differ in the amount of change seen in muscle strength, level of independence performing a functional task requiring use of the targeted muscle group, and/or perceived exertion required to perform the functional task. Participants will: 1. complete three pre-treatment evaluation sessions to establish muscle strength, level of independence performing a functional task, and perceived exertion required to perform a functional task. 2. perform four sets of 20 muscle contraction repetitions of blood flow-restricted exercise on the left and right sides of the body using the targeted muscle group either two times or three times weekly depending on treatment group assignment. 3. complete three post-treatment evaluation sessions to establish muscle strength, level of independence performing a functional task, and perceived exertion required to perform a functional task.
Participants in both treatment groups will receive blood flow-restricted (BFR) intervention for eight weeks. Other than substituting BFR exercises for those typically performed with the target muscle group, a participant's established treatment program will not change with study enrollment. Participants will engage in pre-treatment data collection measuring the strength and functional use of the target muscle group for three consecutive days before beginning the BFR protocol. We will use a dynamometer to measure in Newtons the maximum force a participant can exert with the left and right targ…
Inclusion Criteria: * A current client receiving treatment for a spinal cord injury at Quality Living, Inc. Exclusion Criteria: * Does not speak English * Can not follow commands * Recent history of deep vein thrombosis, autonomic dysreflexia, orthostatic hypotension, or cardiovascular disease
Blood flow-restricted exercise involves performance of low-load contractions of a target muscle group while a pneumatic cuff placed proximally on the limb partially restricts blood flow to muscles and venous return to central circulation.