Autonomic Effects of Stimulation in SCI

September 1, 2026 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

Autonomic Effects of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation in Veterans With SCI

This study aims to determine the effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to increase blood pressure and use that device to increase power output and heart rate recovery during arm cycle ergometry. In addition, the investigators will see if the stimulation helps regulate body temperature when in a cool environment.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study aims to determine the effects of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation to increase blood pressure and use that device to increase exercise power output and heart rate recovery during arm cycle ergometry. In addition, the investigators will see if the stimulation helps regulate body temperature when in a cool environment. Study 1 (arm cycle ergometry) will consist of 2 visits that will be between 2-3 hours in duration, separated by no less than 3 days, and will consist of putting the electrode at the optimal spot on the spine and completing a submaximal arm ergometry exercise and the other visit will be a sham visit. Study 2 (cool environment) will consist of 2 visits that will be between 3-4 hours in duration, separated by no less than 3 days, and will consist of assessing core temperature when in a cool environment with the stimulator on and off.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Jill Wecht, EdD
  • Phone Number: 3122 (718) 584-9000
  • Email: jm.wecht@va.gov

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10468-3904
        • James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

35 years to 50 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • injury more than 1 year ago, non-ambulatory
  • level of lesion C3-T6, AIS A, B, or C
  • stable prescription medication regimen for at least 30 days
  • must be able to commit to study requirements of 7 visits within a 60-day period

Exclusion Criteria:

  • extensive history of seizures
  • ventilator dependence or patent tracheostomy site
  • history of neurologic disorder other than SCI
  • history of moderate or severe head trauma
  • contraindications to spine stimulation
  • significant cardiovascular disease
  • active psychological disorder
  • recent history (within 3 months) of substance abuse
  • open skin lesions over spine at levels targeted for stimulation (L1/L2) and pregnancy

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Without stimulation
For study 1, exercise power output and heart rate recovery will be measured after arm ergometry without stimulation. For study 2, body core temperature and thermal comfort will be reported without stimulation.
Device: Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS)
Non-invasive electrical stimulation of the spinal cord.
Other Names:
  • TSCS
Experimental: With stimulation
For study 1, exercise power output and heart rate recovery will be measured after arm ergometry with stimulation. For study 2, body core temperature and thermal comfort will be reported with stimulation.
Device: Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (TSCS)
Non-invasive electrical stimulation of the spinal cord.
Other Names:
  • TSCS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Study 1. Arm Cycle Ergometry Outcome - Peak Workload
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured in watts.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Study 1. Arm Cycle Ergometry Outcome - Total Exercise Time
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured in minutes.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Study 1. Arm Cycle Ergometry Outcome - Recovery Heart Rate
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured at 1 minute, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Study 2. Thermoregulatory Outcome - Core Temperature
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured in degrees Celsius.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Study 2. Thermoregulatory Outcome - Thermal Comfort
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured using a Likert scale.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Study 2. Thermoregulatory Outcome - Thermal Sensation
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Difference between active transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) and sham TSCS conditions, measured using a Likert scale.
through study completion, up to 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exercise Endurance Time
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
Determine if TSCS increases exercise endurance time compared to no stimulation.
through study completion, up to 2 years
Subjective Reporting on Thermal Comfort and Thermal Sensation
Time Frame: through study completion, up to 2 years
To determine if TSCS helps improve subjective reporting on thermal comfort and thermal sensation compared to no stimulation.
through study completion, up to 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jill Wecht, EdD, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 24, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 30, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 15, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 15, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 27, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 1, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • B4373-P
  • 1I21RX004373-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract: RR&D)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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