Examining the Effect of Acute Intermittent Hypoxia on Serum Blood Proteins and Lower Limb Function

Drug
General health
Online since 4 September 2025, updated 90 days ago

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 100 participants with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury to test the effect of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) on blood biomarkers and lower limb function. AIH is an intervention testing the effect on nerve growth (plasticity) resulting from repeatedly breathing air with low oxygen content (9%) for brief periods (90s), alternating with breathing room air with normal oxygen content (21%). If included, participants will be randomly assigned to undergo 4 consecutive days of either AIH or a sham procedure. Final testing of blood serum proteins related to changes in lower limb function will be performed after 4 days.

Included participants

Gender
All
Age
18 - 75 years
Injury level
C2 - L5
  • Severity (AIS)?
  • AIS-A
    AIS-B
    AIS-C
    AIS-D
    Time since injury
    ≥ 1 year
  • Injury type
  • Non-traumatic

    Healthy volunteers
    Yes
    C2-L5
    Additionally, participants must
    NOT have metal implants in the head, or pacemaker

    What’s involved

    Type

    Drug

    Details

    - Participants will be randomly assigned to undergo 4 consecutive days of 15 episodes of either acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) or a sham procedure with normal oxygen only. - AIH is an intervention to test the effect on plasticity resulting from repeatedly breathing air with low oxygen content (9%) for brief periods (90s), alternating with breathing room air with normal oxygen content (21%). - Final testing of blood biomarkers will be performed after 4 days.

    Potential benefits

    Main benefits

    General health

    Additional benefits

    Standing/walking/mobility

    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 Mar 2024
    • Organisation
    • University of Colorado, Boulder
    • Trial recruitment status
    • By invitation
    • Trial start date
    • 1 Mar 2024
    • Organisation
    • University of Colorado, Boulder

    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