Improve dynamic lateral balance during walking after spinal cord injury

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Participants with spinal cord injury who can walk on a treadmill with or without partial body-weight support will be randomized to one of three groups: pelvis perturbation training paired with active tsDCS, pelvis perturbation training paired with sham stimulation, or treadmill training only. Pelvis perturbations are delivered during treadmill walking to increase lateral balance muscle activation, while tsDCS is applied noninvasively over the spinal cord to potentially boost spinal circuit excitability. The protocol uses repeated training sessions to promote use-dependent plasticity and measures changes in dynamic balance and locomotor function over time. Safety screening excludes participants with unstable skin, certain implants, severe cardiopulmonary disease, recent Botox, or other conditions that would interfere with participation.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age between 18 and 65 years;
2. medically stable with medical clearance to participate;
3. level of the SCI lesion between C4-T10;
4. passive range of motion of the legs within functional limits of ambulation;
5. ability to walk on a treadmill for more than 20 minutes with partial body weight support as needed and short sitting/standing breaks;
6. ability to ambulate without orthotics or with orthotics that do not cross the knee for more than 10 meters

Exclusion Criteria:

1. the presence of unhealed decubiti, existing infection, severe cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, concomitant central or peripheral neurological injury (e.g. traumatic head injury or peripheral nerve damage in lower limbs);
2. history of recurrent fractures and/or known orthopedic injury to the lower extremities;
3. Botox injection within 6 months of starting the study, and current receiving physical therapy treatment;
4. have metallic implantation in the spinal region underneath where electrodes may be placed.

Where it's running

• Abilitylab
  Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Ming Wu, PhD — Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
• Study coordinator: Weena Dee, PT
• Email: wdee@ric.org
• Phone: 312-2384824

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.