- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT06213012
Harnessing Neuroplasticity of Postural Sensorimotor Networks Using Non-Invasive Spinal Neuromodulation to Maximize Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Spinal circuitries below a paralyzing injury have a functional potential that far exceeds what has been thought possible. It has been demonstrated that task-specific motor therapy combined with epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESS) can promote improved motor function during postural, locomotor, and voluntary movement tasks, resulting in dramatic effects on the wellbeing of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). While these findings indicate a substantial promise for restoring mobility even after motor complete paralysis, chronic ESS is based on a high-cost implantable device, as well as an expensive and invasive surgical procedure. The investigators have developed a cost-effective alternative to ESS - non-invasive, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the spinal cord (TSS). Preliminary works demonstrate that this neuromodulatory strategy provides sufficient specificity to selectively stimulate multisegmental dorsal nerve roots, enable stepping movements, and improve postural control during sitting and standing in individuals with motor complete SCI. The similarities between the effects of ESS and TSS are of critical importance in guiding more individually-specific neuromodulatory approaches to improve motor function and mobility after SCI, but have not been compared directly in the same subjects.
This study is focused on investigation the effects and mechanisms of each spinal neuromodulation strategy in regaining self-assisted standing. Not only is the recovery of balance control one of the most desired goals of people with paralysis, it provides the foundation necessary for regaining the ability to walk, and is critical to future therapies, involving robotic (e.g. exoskeleton) technologies. The objectives of this study are (1) to define the therapeutic potential of TSS during standing in individuals with motor complete SCI, and (2) to identify the neurophysiological and functional signatures of TSS and ESS. The central hypothesis is that each of the neuromodulatory strategies, when individually tailored, can result in significant motor recovery in individuals with chronic paralysis by reactivation and integration of networks that were clinically dormant prior to the intervention. The investigators predict that this proposal will have a high impact given that it encompasses multiple functional systems that contribute to the independence and quality of life in a broad population of individuals with SCI, and provides the first direct comparison of the invasive and non-invasive approaches. The investigators propose a progressive, mechanistic, and translational study to validate the effects of each approach, examine the neuroplastic capacity caused by activity-based training in the presence of TSS, and evaluate TSS and ESS stimulation paradigms as rehabilitative modalities after SCI.
Study Type
Enrollment (Estimated)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Contact
- Name: Rachel Markley, MPH
- Phone Number: (713)-441-3770
- Email: rmarkley@houstonmethodist.org
Study Contact Backup
- Name: Jenny Dinh
- Phone Number: (346)-238-4654
- Email: jtdinh@houstonmethodist.org
Study Locations
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Texas
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Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
- Recruiting
- Houston Methodist Hospital
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Contact:
- Jenny Dinh
- Phone Number: 346-238-4654
- Email: jtdinh@houstonmethodist.org
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Principal Investigator:
- Dimitry Sayenko, MD, PhD
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
- Adult
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- All participants must be able to provide a provision of a signed and dated informed consent form.
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
- Male or female, aged 22-60 years old Able to provide paperwork from personal primary treating physician that proves stable medical condition with ability to tolerate at least 15 minutes upright
- Able to self-transfer from the wheelchair and demonstrate active range of motion of bilateral upper extremities in gravity dependent plane
- Able to passively range bilateral lower extremities within normal mobility parameters including: greater than 90 degrees of hip flexion and 165 degrees of hip extension; greater than 90 degrees of knee flexion and reach neutral knee extension of 180 degrees; neutral ankle position reaching a minimum of 90 degrees of dorsiflexion.
- Maintain current oral anti-spasticity regimen/dosage as approved by study physician with no change in regular use that may affect study outcomes.
- 1 to 6 years post spinal cord injury
- Non-progressive spinal cord injury
- Chronic motor complete SCI as defined by AIS A or B
- Neurological level of injury below T2 and above T10 (non-conus injury)
- Eligible for fMRI per safety questionnaire
- Women of childbearing potential must agree to the use of an effective means of avoiding pregnancy for the duration of the study.
- Able to commit to the full study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently involved in another rehabilitation training study
- Active pressure sores, unhealed bone fractures, peripheral neuropathies, or painful musculoskeletal dysfunction (including but not limited to contractures in the upper and lower extremities)
- Any ongoing medical condition which would preclude participant from regular physical activity (including but not limited to: cardiopulmonary disease, uncontrollable autonomic dysreflexia or orthostatic hypotension, active urinary tract infections, pregnant or nursing)
- Intrathecal baclofen pump therapy for spasticity
- Must not have received Botox injections to primary lower extremity and trunk musculature within the past 3 months, resulting in absence of muscle tone and precluding response to electrical stimulation therapy
- Current or history of neuromuscular conditions (including but not limited to: unhealed ligament of muscular tears in the upper or lower extremities, pain in weight bearing positions for upper and lower extremities).
- Clinically significant depression, psychiatric disorders, or ongoing drug abuse
- Any reason the PI or treating physician may deem as harmful to the participant to enroll or continue in the study
- Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30
- Pregnancy
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Active Comparator: Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation (TSS)
Spinal Stimulation delivered over the skin using a research stimulator with conventional surface electrodes during research visits.
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Delivered using a constant-current stimulator
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Experimental: Epidural Spinal Stimulation (ESS)
Stimulation delivered internally using an implanted device operated by an external control (only used during research visits).
|
The device used for ESS, the CoverEdgeX 32 Surgical Lead system (Boston Scientific, USA), is a device approved by the FDA used in the treatment of severe pain and is approved for individuals to manage chronic pain when other treatments have not been effective. If you are in the ESS group, you will have surgery to have the stimulator placed and the stimulator will be removed at an office visit towards the end of the study. |
Sham Comparator: Sham
Sham Stimulation delivered over the skin using a research stimulator with conventional surface electrodes during research visits.
Sham stimulation will be delivered using the intensity of stimulation set as during active sessions of ESS, but then gradually decreased down to zero in approximately 30 s.
There will be 5-10 minute breaks interspersed between intervals of stimulation, and will vary according to the individual's tolerance and fatigue levels
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Delivered using a constant-current stimulator
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Assessment of force generation by lower limbs
Time Frame: Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
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Neuromotor outcomes will be assessed during supine and upright standing, focusing on leg extension force output.
Measurements will be taken under various conditions, including voluntary effort without spinal stimulation, and in the presence of Transcutaneous Spinal Stimulation (TSS), Epidural Spinal Stimulation (ESS), or Sham stimulation.
The force output will be quantified in newtons (N).
The magnitude of EMG signals will be quantified and expressed in millivolts (mV).
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Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Assessment of neurological status
Time Frame: Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
|
International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI (ISNCSCI).
The total motor score has a range of 0 to 100, with specific key muscles assessed on both sides of the body.
The sensory scores also range from 0 to 112, evaluating light touch and pinprick sensation in different dermatomes.
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Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
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Assessment of Independence
Time Frame: Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
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Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM).
The SCIM involves assessing various neurological functions and assigning scores.
The SCIM has a scale ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater independence in activities of daily living.
The minimum score signifies complete dependence, while the maximum score reflects complete independence.
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Baseline 1(week 1), baseline 2(week 6), post interventions (week 11), and follow up (week 16)
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Collaborators and Investigators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Dimitry Sayenko, MD, PhD, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Estimated)
Study Completion (Estimated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- PRO00037483
- 5R01NS119587-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
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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