Spinal Stimulation Through the Skin to Improve Exercise in People With Spinal Cord Injury
Tests electrical spinal stimulation during exercise in adults with spinal cord injury.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation to Improve Exercise Function After Spinal Cord Injury.
Key facts
- Where
- Winnipeg, CanadaSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 70 years old?
Source: NCT07692191, who can take part
Where in Canada
- University of ManitobaWinnipeg, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University of Manitoba
- Trial code
- NCT07692191
- Record updated
- 9 July 2026
- Original description
Our overall objective is to decrease the prevalence of multiple sedentary-related diseases that are secondary consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI affects motor, sensory and autonomic systems and can cause very limited exercise capacity which then leads to very high rates of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Read full original descriptionShow less
Transcutaneous Spinal Electrical Stimulation to Improve Exercise Function After Spinal Cord Injury.
Our overall objective is to decrease the prevalence of multiple sedentary-related diseases that are secondary consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI affects motor, sensory and autonomic systems and can cause very limited exercise capacity which then leads to very high rates of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
This randomized controlled study aims to determine whether and how transcutaneous spinal electrical stimulation (TSES) alters acute (immediate) exercise responses in people living with SCI. Exercise responses will be tested during incremental tests to fatigue, and during steady state tests. Testing will occur over several study visits and results will be compared within each individual as well as between groups (tetraplegia and paraplegia) and to a group of reference controls. A number of outcomes will be monitored, including whole-body metabolic responses using a metabolic cart, muscle responses using EMG sensors and muscle oxygenation using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors, time to fatigue, power output, as well as perceptions about fatigue and effort.
The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding whether and how TSES might improve acute exercise responses in people living with SCI.
Inclusion: traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury; Spinal cord injury of at least one year duration, C5 or lower, AIS A - D; medically stable and healthy enough to engage in and complete exercise requirements; willing and able to complete the exercise protocols and testing requirements; able to understand and follow written and verbal instructions from study staff; able to communicate with study staff about their exercise capabilities and preferences.
Exclusion: known cardiovascular disease; implanted electronic cardiac devices (e.g., pacemaker, defibrillator, etc.); current pressure ulcer(s); current cancer; uncontrolled epilepsy; current deep vein thrombosis; cognitive impairment; current serious injury (ies) of the upper extremities; unsatisfactory results of EKG screening; morbid obesity; known thyroid dysfunction; current uncontrolled high blood pressure; ventilator dependency.