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Arm and Leg Cycling for Accelerated SCI Recovery

Rehabilitation
Standing/walking/mobility
Online since 4 September 2025, updated 98 days ago
Curated trial

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 40 participants with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury to test the effect of arm and leg cycling combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) and transcutaneous spinal stimulation (tSS) on walking function. FES is a technique that applies electrical stimulation through the skin to nerves to cause contraction of weakened or paralyzed muscles. tSS is a non-invasive technique that uses surface electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation aimed at modifying spinal cord function. If included, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) arm and leg cycling with FES and sham tSS; (2) arm and leg cycling with FES and active tSS; or (3) body weight supported treadmill training. Final testing of walking function will be performed after 6 months.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
18 - 75 years
Injury level
C1 - T11
  • Severity (AIS)?
    • AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≥ 1 year
  • Injury type

    • Traumatic

    Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    No
    C1-T11
    Additionally, participants must
    Be able to ambulate independently for at least 10 meters
    Ambulate with maximum walking speed of less than 0.8 meters/second
    Have bilateral arm strength to independently arm cycle 15 minutes

    What’s involved

    Type

    Rehabilitation

    Details

    - Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) arm and leg cycling with functional electrical stimulation (FES) and sham transcutaneous spinal stimulation (tSS), (2) arm and leg cycling with FES and active tSS, or (3) body weight supported treadmill training. - FES is a technique that applies electrical stimulation through the skin to nerves to cause contraction of weakened or paralyzed muscles. - tSS is a non-invasive technique that uses surface electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation aimed at modifying spinal cord function. - All participants will complete 60-minute training sessions, three times per week for 12 weeks. - Final testing of walking function will be performed after 6 months.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    Standing/walking/mobility

    Additional benefits

    General health

    Spasticity

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

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more


    • Trial recruitment status
    • By invitation
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Dec 2025
    • Organisation
    • Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
    View on clinicaltrials.gov
    for more details
    • Trial recruitment status
    • By invitation
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Dec 2025
    • Organisation
    • Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
    View on clinicaltrials.gov
    for more details

    Wings for Life supports SCITrialsFinder

    Wings for Life has proudly initiated, led and funded the new version of the SCI Trials Finder website. Wings for Life aims to find a cure for spinal cord injuries. The not-for-profit foundation funds world-class scientific research and clinical trials around the globe.

    Learn more

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