Intermittent Hypoxia to Enhance Motor Function After Spinal Cord Injury

About this trial

This trial is enrolling individuals with spinal cord injuries to test the effect of intermittent hypoxia on breathing, sitting, standing, and walking. Intermittent hypoxia briefly delivers exposures of low oxygen, alternated with exposures of normal oxygen. Recent studies have shown that this treatment can strengthen motor nerve function after SCI; beneficial effects have been demonstrated with walking, breathing and limb strength. If selected, participants will undergo a session of intermittent hypoxia and for comparison, a sham-session of normal oxygen on a different day. The procedures will be done in 15 brief (1-2 minute) exposures of low oxygen alternated with 15 brief exposures to normal oxygen. In the sham session, the air delivery will be normal oxygen air alternating with normal room air. At the time of the sessions, participants will not know whether they are receiving intermittent hypoxia or the sham alternative. Outcomes will be assessed after each of the two sessions, measuring performance of certain movement and breathing tasks