Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Leg Function Following Spinal Cord Injury

About this trial

This study is recruiting people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injuries to test how breathing air with low oxygen alternated with normal room air (acute intermittent hypoxia; AIH) improves leg function. Repetitive exposure to mild hypoxia may have benefits for spinal cord recovery, including protein synthesis and modified nerve circuitry to improve breathing, leg strength and walking. Participants will either breathe short periods of low oxygen or room air, through a face mask, 3 times per week; neither participant nor investigator will know the order of the treatments. After each treatment, testing will assess walking and leg strength, and safety.