Intermittent Hypoxia to Enhance Motor Function After Spinal Cord Injury
Condition: Spinal Cord Injuries
MeSH terms: Spinal Cord Injuries; Hypoxia; Wounds and Injuries
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study will examine if acute intermittent hypoxia (brief episodes of breathing lower
      oxygen), which has been shown to enhance plasticity and motor output, can enhance functional
      outcomes and muscle activation in individuals with spinal cord injury. Our aim is to assess
      breathing, sitting, standing and walking functional ability before and after acute
      intermittent hypoxia, compared to a sham treatment. This information may be useful in
      advancing rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries.
    

Detailed description: 
      Recent evidence has shown that acute intermittent hypoxia can strengthen motor pathways after
      spinal cord injury, and enhance walking outcomes after walking rehabilitation compared to
      walking rehabilitation alone. A single session of acute intermittent hypoxia has also been
      shown to temporarily enhance breathing and limb strength in people with spinal cord injury.
      Further evidence supports the hypothesis that acute intermittent hypoxia acts on all motor
      pathways, and thus can enhance the strength of most muscles in the body.

      Spinal cord injury affects the muscles that control respiration. Decreased respiratory muscle
      function can lead to diseases of the respiratory system, which are the primary cause of death
      and significant cause of re-hospitalization after spinal cord injury. Deficits in postural
      muscle function affect one's ability to balance, safely maintain a seated position, or
      ambulate after spinal cord injury, severely impacting daily activities such as self-care and
      feeding skills.

      This study will test the hypothesis that a single session of acute intermittent hypoxia will
      increase strength and activation of the muscles that control respiration and posture, leading
      to improved scores on functional assessments in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury.
      Our long term goal is to better understand the therapeutic potential of acute intermittent
      hypoxia combined with physical rehabilitation for individuals with chronic spinal cord
      injury.
    

Intervention name(s): Hypoxia via Hypoxico Hyp-123; Sham via Hypoxico Hyp-123
Intervention type(s): Device; Device
Intervention description(s): During acute intermittent hypoxia, subjects will undergo 15 brief exposures (60-120 seconds) of low oxygen air (9-15% inspired oxygen) delivered by an air generator, alternated with 15 brief exposures (60-120 seconds) of ambient room air.; During sham intermittent hypoxia, subjects will undergo 15 brief exposures (60-120 seconds) of normal oxygen air (21% inspired oxygen) delivered by an air generator, alternated with 15 brief exposures (60-120 seconds) of ambient room air.
Other intervention name(s): Altitude Generator; Altitude Generator
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: acute intermittent hypoxia; breathing; spinal cord injury; motor function