The Effect of NMES on Bowel Management in People With Chronic SCI

Technology

Bowel health

Online since 5 November 2021, updated 894 days ago

About this trial

This is a trial to test the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the abdominal wall on bowel function after spinal cord injury. If included, participants will receive 30 minutes of NMES applied 30 minutes before defecation over the course of 16 weeks. Researchers want to see if NMES is effective in decreasing both bowel transit time and constipation.

Included participants

Gender

All

Age

≥ 18 years

Injury level

C2 - L5

Severity (AIS)?

AIS-A

AIS-B

AIS-C

AIS-D

Time since injury

≥ 1 year

Injury type

Traumatic

Non-traumatic

Healthy volunteers

C2-L5

Additionally, participants must

Report that their current bowel program routine requires too much time.

What’s involved

Type

Technology

Details

The participant will receive 30minutes of NMES applied with four adhesive electrodes attached to the abdominal wall. The stimulus will be applied for 30minutes before the usual bowel program emptying time over the course of 16 weeks. The stimulation protocol will be performed at home or at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil, Switzerland Participants will have follow-up outcome assessments at various time points over 24 weeks.

Potential benefits

Main benefits

Bowel health

Additional benefits

Bladder health/function

General health

Good to know: Potential benefits are defined as outcomes that are being measured during and/or after the trial.

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