Browse the latest research summaries in the field of physiology for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 131-140 of 292 results
Aging and Disease, 2016 • February 1, 2016
This review highlights the importance of skeletal muscle health for overall well-being and physical function, especially in the context of aging and neurological conditions like stroke and spinal cord...
KEY FINDING: Muscle size and strength decrease with disuse due to decreased protein synthesis and increased protein breakdown, leading to muscle atrophy and weakness, which can be exacerbated by conditions like stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI).
Behav Brain Res, 2016 • July 1, 2016
The study assessed muscular dysfunction following unilateral cSCI using awake behaving electromyography (EMG) simultaneously recorded from the biceps and triceps of the impaired forelimb. Volitional f...
KEY FINDING: C5/C6 hemicontusion reduced volitional forelimb strength by more than 50% despite weekly rehabilitation for one month post-injury.
Physiol Rep, 2017 • February 1, 2017
This study investigated the relationship between body composition and mitochondrial mass and activity in skeletal muscle biopsies from individuals with SCI. The study found that increased adipose tiss...
KEY FINDING: Citrate synthase (CS) activity, a marker of mitochondrial mass, was inversely related to %body fat, %leg fat, %trunk fat, and %android fat.
PLoS ONE, 2018 • August 31, 2018
This study examined the associations of anthropometric measurements of central adiposity to visceral adipose tissue and cardiometabolic disease risk factors in men with SCI and determine population-sp...
KEY FINDING: Seated/supine abdominal and waist circumferences were associated with MRI visceral fat cross-sectional area (VATCSA), VAT volume and CSA:TotalCSA.
The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2017 • March 1, 2017
A recent study showed weight loss in SCI patients, but the author argues that BMI alone is insufficient to assess health in this population due to changes in body composition. Body composition, partic...
KEY FINDING: Persons categorized as overweight or obese at baseline experienced overall weight loss over 1 year, while those initially characterized as underweight or of normal weight appeared to gain weight.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2004 • May 1, 2004
This study investigated whether spasticity in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with elevated monosynaptic reflex excitability by examining soleus H-reflex recruitment cu...
KEY FINDING: There was no significant difference in HTH between able-bodied and SCI subjects
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2004 • October 25, 2004
This study evaluated the effect of passive leg movements on blood circulation during tilt table testing in healthy adults. Two types of passive leg movements were tested: stepping and cycling. The res...
KEY FINDING: Passive stepping movements on the tilt stepper significantly reduced the occurrence of near-syncope or syncope compared to the traditional tilt table.
J Physiol, 2005 • October 20, 2005
This study compared muscle recruitment characteristics of intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) and nerve cuff stimulation (NCS) in rats. The results showed that ISMS preferentially recruited fatigue-re...
KEY FINDING: ISMS preferentially recruits fatigue-resistant (FR) fibers compared to NCS, especially at higher stimulation amplitudes.
J Appl Physiol, 2006 • August 1, 2006
The study quantified postfatigue potentiation in acutely and chronically paralyzed soleus muscles and determined the effect of long-term electrical stimulation training on potentiation characteristics...
KEY FINDING: Chronically paralyzed muscles show significant postfatigue potentiation, while acutely paralyzed muscles do not.
Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, 2006 • May 12, 2006
This study examined the dynamics of axonal recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats using spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEPs). Electrodes were implanted to stimulate and record electrical sig...
KEY FINDING: SCEP waveforms were significantly reduced or completely lost immediately after SCI. Partial recovery of SCEPs was observed in all injury groups over time.