Objective
The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is seeking participants with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) to study the effects of combined arm and leg cycling on an individual’s walking ability.
During the study, participants will complete 5 training sessions (~1.5hrs per session) per week with cycling for 12 consecutive weeks.
Additionally, we will complete several assessments at baseline, at 3-week intervals during the training period, after the training period, and 6 months after the training period. The assessments include tests for sense, strength, balance, stability, spasticity/stiffness, walking speed, walking distance, muscle strength, gait analysis, muscle responses due to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of your brain, and brain-muscle connectivity via electro-encephalography (EEG). The assessments (~7hrs per timepoint) may be split across several days.
Who Can Participate
- Incomplete spinal cord injury at T11 or above, at least 1 year ago
- Incomplete paraplegia or tetraplegia
- Injury occurred at least 1 year ago
- Able to walk independently for at least 10 meters (30 feet)
- Walking speed is slower than 2.62ft per second
- Able to arm cycle for at least 15 min
- English speaking adults, 18-75 years
Compensation
Participants will be compensated up to $900 for their time and effort in completing all study visits including the 6-month follow-up visit. Parking in the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab garage will be covered with vouchers.
