Pairing Intermittent Hypoxia and Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation to Promote Arm Use After Cervical SCI

About this trial

This is a clinical trial to test the combined effect of a breathing intervention combined with spinal cord electrical stimulation on individuals with incomplete cervical (neck area) spinal cord injury. The study will apply acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), a technique wherein participants repeatedly breath air with low oxygen content for brief periods, alternating with breathing room air with normal oxygen content. AIH will be combined with spinal cord stimulation, using electrodes applied to the skin of the back to activate spinal cord nerve networks. There is some evidence that either intervention applied separately may improve recovery of motor function following SCI, so this study wants to see whether combining the two is beneficial for recovery of hand function. If selected, participants will undergo spinal cord stimulation along with one of two study arms 1) either sham AIH (room air — participants use a breathing mask and do not know their oxygen level); or 2) active AIH. Functional task practice with the hands is included. A total of 24 session (4 days/week) will be performed, with evaluations of arm and hand function at the end of each treatment week. Final testing will be performed at 8 weeks from study initiation.