Neurophysiologic Investigation of inter-limb connectivity after SCI

Purpose

To determine whether activating arms affects reflexes in the legs in persons who sustained a spinal cord injury

Eligibility Criteria

• Persons with spinal cord injury
  • Spinal cord injury due to a trauma (motor vehicle accident, fall, etc)
  • Normal arm strength and function
  • Partial or complete muscle weakness in the legs
  • Level of injury between T1 and T10
  • No heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or pacemaker/defibrillator
  • No other major illness
• Healthy Volunteers
  • Normal arm and leg function
  • No heart disease uncontrolled hypertension, or pacemaker/defibrillator
  • No other major illness

Procedure

• A person is seated in a chair or wheelchair in front of arm bike
• The reflex in one of the calves is tested using mild electricity and muscle sensors
• Muscle sensors are placed on selected arm and leg muscles
• A person is asked to cycle with arms against increasing resistance as much as possible
• A person is asked to cycle with arms for about 2 minutes, each time at different pace (30, 60, 90 cycles per minute) and against different resistance levels (10 and 20% of the maximal possible guided by the sound and light
• The reflex in the calf is tested for 2 minutes before and during cycling
• It takes about 1-1.5hr to complete the test
• Strength and sensation are tested in a person with spinal cord injury by physical therapist

Compensation

$25 travel allowance, free parking, and lunch ticket (if appropriate)

More information

Call 601-364-3314 or 601-364-3424 or complete the form below.

Potential research subjects' privacy will be protected and the confidentiality of identifiable data will be maintained in accordance with applicable federal regulations and institutional policies. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of MRC.