Effect of acute intermittent hypoxia on motor function in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury following ibuprofen pretreatment: A pilot study

This study investigates whether ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug, can enhance the effects of acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) on leg strength in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). AIH involves short periods of low oxygen, which can improve motor function after SCI. Researchers tested if ibuprofen could boost the benefits of AIH because inflammation might hinder the spinal cord's ability to adapt and recover after injury. They compared leg strength improvements after AIH with and without ibuprofen pretreatment. The study found that AIH increased leg strength in individuals with chronic SCI, but ibuprofen did not significantly enhance this effect. This suggests that a single dose of ibuprofen may not be sufficient to augment the benefits of AIH in this population.

• 1
  AIH significantly increased maximal voluntary plantar flexion torque (leg strength) at 30 and 60 minutes post-AIH compared to baseline in individuals with chronic incomplete SCI.
• 2
  Ibuprofen pretreatment did not significantly augment the effects of AIH on plantar flexion torque. There were no significant differences in torque values between ibuprofen and placebo conditions at any of the time points.
• 3
  A significant association was found between increases in torque and EMG activity in both gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, suggesting a relationship between muscle activity and strength gains.