Hypoxia Pathways for Early Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

About this trial

This trial is enrolling 10 participants with sub-acute spinal cord injury to test the effect of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) and acute intermittent hypercapnic-hypoxia (AIHH) on respiratory function. AIH is a strategy to restore breathing capacity by promoting spinal neuroplasticity. The intervention involves repeatedly breathing air with low oxygen content for brief periods, alternating with breathing room air with normal oxygen content. AIHH is a variation of AIH that combines low oxygen with elevated carbon dioxide levels to further stimulate respiratory pathways. If included, participants will complete 3 separate single-session testing days, beginning with a sham exposure (room air), followed by AIH and AIHH in randomized order. Final testing of respiratory function will be performed after 3 days.