Actively Recruiting
Motoneuron Recruitment and Motor Evoked Potential Up-Conditioning (MEP) in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Led by Medical University of South Carolina · Updated on 2025-11-26
15
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
99 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Medical University of South Carolina
Lead Sponsor
N
Northwestern University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of a brain stimulation training to improve the function of brain-spinal cord- muscle connections. Because brain-to-muscle pathways are very important in our movement control, restoring function of these pathways may improve movement problems after injuries. Spinal cord injury causes damage to the brain-to-muscle connection. However, when the injury is "incomplete", there is a possibility that some of the brain-to-muscle pathways are still connected and may be trained to improve movement function. For examining brain-to-muscle pathways, investigators use a transcranial magnetic stimulator. Investigators hope that the results of this research study will help us develop new treatments for people who have movement disabilities. This study will require about 42 visits over the first 14 weeks, and another 6 visits over an additional 3 months. Each visit will take about 1 ½ hours.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Motoneuron Recruitment and Motor Evoked Potential Up-Conditioning (MEP) in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adult (18 years or older)
- History of spinal cord injury at or above the C6 level
- Neurologically stable for more than 1 year after spinal cord injury
- Medical clearance to participate
- Weak wrist extension on at least one side
- Expectation that current medications will remain unchanged for at least 3 months
- Stable use of anti-spasticity medications such as baclofen, diazepam, or tizanidine is allowed
- For participants with bilateral wrist weakness and measurable motor evoked potential in both arms, the more impaired arm will be studied
- For unilateral wrist weakness or bilateral weakness with measurable motor evoked potential in only one arm, that arm will be studied
You will not qualify if you...
- Motoneuron injury
- Unstable medical condition
- Cognitive impairment preventing participation in learning-based intervention
- History of epileptic seizures
- Pre-existing neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, or Parkinson's disease
- Metal implants in the skull
- Implanted biomedical devices in or above the chest, including pacemakers or cochlear implants
- No measurable motor evoked potential in the extensor carpi radialis muscle
- Inability to produce any voluntary muscle activity in the extensor carpi radialis
- Daily extensive use of functional electrical stimulation to the arm
- Pregnancy
- Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29407
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
O
Occupational Therapist
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
1
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