Improving hand grasping after spinal cord injury
Grasping Function After Spinal Cord Injury
This study is testing if special brain stimulation combined with hand exercises can help people with spinal cord injuries improve their ability to grasp objects.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 175 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Hines, Illinois) |
| Trial ID | NCT03447509 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to enhance grasping abilities in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) by investigating the physiological pathways involved in hand control. It employs tailored non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), alongside motor training to improve two essential grasping behaviors: precision grip and power grip. The research will assess the contributions of corticospinal and brainstem pathways to hand muscle control, with the goal of maximizing recovery and improving daily life activities for participants. The findings could significantly impact the independence and quality of life for those affected by SCI.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals aged 18-85 with chronic cervical spinal cord injury and some ability to perform precision grips.
Not a fit: Patients with spinal cord injuries below C8 or those who cannot perform any wrist flexion and extension may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to improved hand function and greater independence for patients with spinal cord injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using non-invasive brain stimulation for rehabilitation in similar contexts, suggesting potential for success in this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Participants who are unimpaired healthy controls: * Male and females between ages 18-85 years * Right handed * Able to complete precision grips with both hands * Able to complete full wrist flexion-extension bilaterally Participants who have had a spinal cord injury: * Male and females between ages 18-85 years * Chronic SCI (\> 1 year post injury) * Spinal Cord injury at C8 or above * Intact or impaired but not absent innervations in dermatomes C6. C7 and C8 during light touch and pin prick stimulus using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) sensory scores * The ability to produce a visible precision grip force with one hand * Able to perform some small wrist flexion and extension * ASIA A,B,C, or D Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria for enrollment For SCI and Healthy Control Subjects (4-8 exclusion for non-invasive brain stimulation only): * Uncontrolled medical problems including pulmonary, cardiovascular or orthopedic disease * Any debilitating disease prior to the SCI that caused exercise intolerance * Premorbid, ongoing major depression or psychosis, altered cognitive status * History of head injury or stroke * Pacemaker * Metal plate in skull * History of seizures * Receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold * Pregnant females * Ongoing cord compression or a syrinx in the spinal cord or who suffer from a spinal cord disease such as spinal stenosis, spina bifida, MS, or herniated disk
Where this trial is running
Hines, Illinois
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL — Hines, Illinois, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Monica A Perez, PhD — Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL
- Study coordinator: Monica A Perez, PhD
- Email: mperez04@sralab.org
- Phone: (312) 238-2886
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.