Warm blankets may cut heart risk for paralyzed patients
NCT ID NCT04971408
First seen Mar 21, 2026 · Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Updated 16 times
Summary
People with spinal cord injury (SCI) face higher risks of heart disease and diabetes, partly due to chronic inflammation and poor blood vessel function. Exercise helps but is often not possible. This small study tested whether repeated passive heating (using a water-perfused suit or electric blanket) three times a week for eight weeks could lower inflammation and improve metabolism and blood vessel health in 10 adults with stable SCI. The goal was to see if this simple, accessible method could reduce key risk factors for heart disease and diabetes.
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, Texas, 78229-4404, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
passive heat stress (water perfused suit or electrical heating blanket)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a simple, accessible way to lower heart disease and diabetes risk in people with spinal cord injury who cannot exercise.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early study (10 participants) with no control group for comparison. The benefits seen may not be large or lasting, and longer-term effects are unknown.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.