Daily Intermittent Hypoxia and Task-Specific Upper Limb Training in Persons With Chronic Incomplete SCI

About this trial

This is a trial to test the effect of repeatedly breathing air with low oxygen content for brief periods, alternating with breathing room air with normal oxygen content (acute intermittent hypoxia: AIH) in combination with training on arm strength and function. If included in this trial, the participant will undergo a 5-day intervention with either 1) a 45 minute session of AIH alone, 2) 45 minute session of AIH followed by 45 minutes of arm training, 3) a 45 minute inactive intervention session (sham AIH: breathing normal room air) alone - not intended to have a therapeutic effect - used in a controlled trial for comparison to an active intervention, or 4) a 45 minute session of sham AIH followed by a 45 minute arm training. The study takes a total of 6 weeks, including initial tests (3-4 hours) before the intervention and final tests for 4 weeks after the intervention.