SPINAL CORD INJURIES

This study tested a system to help a person with arm and hand paralysis from a spinal cord injury regain movement. The participant used a brain implant to send signals to a device that electrically stimulated the muscles in their arm and hand. The goal was to see if they could co…

This study tested two different types of non-invasive brain stimulation, combined with robotic rehabilitation, to see if they could help improve walking and leg movement in people with chronic spinal cord injuries. It involved 30 participants who were at least one year post-injur…

This study aimed to find out if high-intensity walking training works better than lower-intensity exercise to improve walking ability in people with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injuries. It involved 53 participants who did up to 30 training sessions over two months. Researche…

This study tested a new rehabilitation method for people with chronic spinal cord injury in their lower body. It combined a technique called 'motor imagery,' where patients mentally practice movements, with a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation called tDCS. Researchers wanted …

This study tested a new therapy to help people with partial spinal cord injuries improve their balance and reduce the risk of falls. Seventeen participants tried a combination of gentle electrical stimulation to the back and legs while playing balance-focused video games that gav…

This study tested a weight loss program designed specifically for adults with long-term spinal cord injuries. The program combined three approaches: portion-controlled meals, self-monitoring tools, and lifestyle coaching. Researchers aimed to find the best combination to help peo…

This small pilot study tested whether combining two non-invasive treatments—electrical brain/spine stimulation and light therapy—is safe and feasible for people with recent, severe spinal cord injuries. Eight hospitalized patients received the experimental treatment while researc…

This study tested whether a personalized approach to walking therapy works better than standard therapy for people with spinal cord injuries or multiple sclerosis. Researchers used 3D motion capture to analyze each person's specific walking problems and then designed a six-week t…

This small, completed pilot study tested a two-step drug treatment to control bone loss in women with chronic spinal cord injury and osteoporosis. Twelve participants received monthly injections of romosozumab for one year to build bone, followed by a year of weekly alendronate p…

This study tested if a 16-week home program combining leg stimulation exercise with a diet plan was better than diet alone for improving health in adults with spinal cord injuries. Researchers measured changes in body fat, insulin sensitivity, and metabolism. The goal was to see …

This study tested whether a new approach combining brief sessions of low-oxygen breathing with intense arm training could improve hand and arm function for people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers worked with 58 participants who had chronic, non-progressive injuries to see i…

This study tested whether adding functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling to standard robotic rehabilitation could improve walking and leg function in people with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injuries. Thirty-eight participants who were at least six months post-injury a…

This study tested a new training method to prevent dangerous falls in people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers combined balance exercises with mild electrical leg stimulation to help participants react faster when losing balance. Twenty-one people with chronic spinal cord in…

This study tested whether a home-based program combining leg and arm exercises with a hormone (testosterone) could improve health more than exercise alone for people with spinal cord injuries. It involved 84 adults who were at least 6 months post-injury. The goal was to see if th…

This study tested whether a brain-computer interface (BCI) could help people recover hand and arm function after a recent spinal cord injury in the neck. Thirty participants, within 30-90 days of their injury, used either the BCI system or a standard mental imagery practice. The …

This study tested whether a 12-week adaptive exercise program could reduce chronic inflammation in people with spinal cord injuries. Chronic inflammation is linked to heart and lung disease, the leading causes of death for this group. Researchers enrolled 24 participants to see i…

This study tested whether an intensive rehabilitation program using advanced technology helps adults with chronic stroke or spinal cord injury regain independence in daily activities. It compared this high-tech program to standard care in 102 participants who were at least 3 mont…

This small study tested if a simple technique called remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) could help improve hand function. RIC involves briefly restricting blood flow to an arm with a blood pressure cuff, which may trigger the body's natural healing and learning responses. Researc…

This study tested a new training device called an eccentric arm-crank to see if it could improve upper body performance in athletes with spinal cord injuries. Fourteen athletes with spinal cord injuries completed a 20-session training program on the device over several weeks. Res…

This study tested whether a specific talk therapy called Prolonged Exposure Therapy could help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people living with spinal cord injuries. 30 participants were randomly assigned to receive either this therapy or continue wi…

This study tested whether providing therapy through video calls on an iPad could effectively treat depression in people who recently had a spinal cord injury. It involved 75 adults in California who were within a year of their injury and had mild to moderate depression. The goal …

This early study tested a new wireless skin patch designed to deliver medication without needles. The goal is to help people with spinal cord injuries who suffer from severe constipation and bowel incontinence. Researchers checked if the patch was safe and if the body absorbed th…

This small, completed pilot study tested whether a non-invasive treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) could safely reduce painful muscle stiffness (spasticity) in people with long-term spinal cord injuries. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to receive …

This study tested if the drug Buspar (buspirone), commonly used for anxiety, could improve breathing capacity in people with chronic, high-level spinal cord injuries. Researchers enrolled 13 adults with injuries at or above the mid-chest level to see if the drug could boost the b…

This study tested a new balance training system for people with spinal cord injuries or stroke who are at high risk of falling. The system combines a video game played on a balance board with mild electrical stimulation to leg muscles. The goal was to see if this approach could i…

This study tested two different 8-week exercise programs delivered remotely to adults with spinal cord injury. One program used music-based movement, while the other was a standard exercise routine. Researchers compared these to a control group to see which approach better increa…

This study tested whether a new combination therapy could improve walking and balance in people with spinal cord injuries. Fourteen participants tried a treatment that involved brief periods of low oxygen breathing combined with gentle electrical stimulation on the back during wa…

This study tested a new mobile app called SCI-Lynx, designed specifically for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The app aimed to help users connect with each other to provide social support for staying physically active over a one-month period. Researchers wanted to see if …

This study tested whether a 12-week exercise program called 'movement-to-music' (M2M) could improve fitness and well-being in adults with physical disabilities like spinal cord injury, stroke, or multiple sclerosis. 108 participants were randomly assigned to either start the prog…

This study tested whether starting gentle, in-bed leg cycling very soon after spinal surgery is safe and practical for people with severe spinal cord injuries. Forty-five participants began daily 30-minute cycling sessions within 48 hours after their surgery and continued for two…

This small study tested whether an 8-week online group support program is practical and helpful for people living with a spinal cord injury. Twelve participants in Hong Kong attended weekly video meetings led by a trained nurse to learn coping skills. The main goal was to see if …

This small, early-stage study tested whether a drug called brivaracetam could reduce severe nerve pain in people with chronic spinal cord injuries. Twenty-four participants who had not found relief from other pain medications took either the drug or a placebo for three months. Th…

This study tested whether playing virtual reality (VR) games could be a helpful addition to standard arm and hand therapy for people with recent spinal cord injuries causing paralysis in all four limbs (tetraplegia). Twelve hospital inpatients were assigned to receive either thei…

This study aimed to understand why people with spinal cord injuries often develop shoulder, elbow, and wrist problems. Researchers examined 80 patients using ultrasound scans and physical tests to see how wheelchair use duration, injury time, and other factors relate to these mus…

This study observed 42 people with spinal cord injuries for one year after they left the hospital. Researchers tracked their nutrition, home environment, mood, and activity levels to understand why weight gain is common after such injuries. The goal was to gather information to h…

This study looked at how one session of high-intensity interval training affects heart and brain function in people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers compared 30 people with spinal cord injuries to 30 non-injured people during exercise sessions. They measured blood pressure,…

This study aimed to create personalized mathematical models of how much muscle force people with arm weakness from stroke, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury can still produce. Researchers measured 32 patients' shoulder and elbow strength to understand their remaining abil…

This study aimed to understand how sleep apnea and low oxygen levels affect muscle strength and lung function in people with chronic spinal cord injury. Researchers measured hand grip strength and collected blood samples from 30 participants with cervical spinal cord injuries to …

This study aimed to understand how a specific type of brain-to-muscle training changes the nervous system in people with spinal cord injuries. Researchers worked with 21 participants who had stable injuries to see if repeated training sessions could strengthen weakened connection…

This small study tested whether gentle electrical stimulation of nerves in the leg or genital area could increase blood flow to the vagina. It involved 9 women, including those with sexual dysfunction, some with spinal cord injuries, and some without any dysfunction. The goal was…

This study aimed to understand how calf muscles and tendons work during walking in people who have had a stroke or a spinal cord injury, compared to healthy individuals. Researchers used ultrasound and motion analysis to measure how muscles and tendons stretch and move while 64 p…

This early study tested how two drugs used for bowel problems in people with spinal cord injuries get into the body. Researchers compared giving the drugs through a standard IV to delivering them through a special skin patch. The goal was to see if the patch method could be a fut…

This study tested three already-approved medications to see if they could temporarily improve hand function when combined with hand training exercises in people with chronic spinal cord injuries. Researchers measured how well 25 participants could perform hand tasks and how their…