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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02316067

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Effects of Corporal Suspension and Pendulum Exercises

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an exercise program proposed by the CHORDATA® Method on the functionality, maximal isometric torque, muscle activity and muscle thickness of trunk muscles in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.

The hypothesis is that the CHORDATA® Method could reduce the deleterious effects of the traumatic spinal cord injury.

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Key information

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Spinal Cord Diseases Trauma, Nervous System Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Exercise Research Laboratory, School of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90690-200, Brazil

About this study

Participants were allocated into one of two groups (rehabilitation or control). Rehabilitation group (8 weeks of rehabilitation; CHORDATA® Method) Control group (patients with up to three years of traumatic spinal cord injury): Participants maintained their daily-life activities routine during the same eight weeks period and were tested before and after this control period. At the end of the control period, patients interested at participating on the training program were included in the intervention group

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients that suffered traumatic spinal cord injury in the last 42 months, capable of transporting themselves for rehabilitation at the physical therapy clinic and for the neuromuscular tests at the laboratory where measurements were performed.

Exclusion criteria

  • Body weight above 95kg
  • Physical and functional limitations impeding them of performing physical activity
  • Physically incapacitating diseases (e.g severe cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, oncologic diseases, systemic arterial hypertension)
  • Visual deficit that impeded reading
  • Recurrent vertigo or hypotension to exercise
  • Engaged in other treatments that could constitute a confounding effect
  • Changed their daily life activities during the study

Treatment and study plan

rehabilitation

Other

The CHORDATA® Method (16 sessions; 50 minutes each; twice a week) consisted of three exercises: (1) anterior pendulum, with the patient seated on a chair, upper limb suspended by springs and straps, and actively moving the trunk forward; (2) posterior pendulum exercise, on a similar position as exercise (1) but now moving the trunk backwards and recruiting the abdominal wall muscles during a posterior pelvic tilt motion; and (3) stand-up and sit-down exercise, patient with knees fixed anteriorly, initiating the standing-up movement by pulling back and down the springs, trying to maintain the standing position for as long as possible, balancing the trunk and transferring the supporting force from the upper limbs to the lower limbs.

Primary outcomes

  1. Torque change ( assessed by dynamometry.)

    Time frame: Torque was measured 2 times during the study: Pre-intervention/control and post-intervention/control (8 weeks after the first assessment).

    Torque is an expression of the muscular strength and was assessed by dynamometry.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Muscular electrical activation change (assessed by electromyography (EMG)

    Time frame: Muscular electrical activation was measured 2 times during the study: Pre-intervention/control and post-intervention/control (8 weeks after the first assessment).

    Electrical activation was assessed by electromyography (EMG).

Other outcomes

  1. Muscle thickness change (assessed by ultrasonography)

    Time frame: Muscle thickness was measured 2 times during the study: Pre-intervention/control and post-intervention/control (8 weeks after the first assessment).

    Muscle thickness was assessed by ultrasonography

  2. Functional performance change (assessed by Functional Reach Adapted Test)

    Time frame: Functional performace was measured 2 times during the study: Pre-intervention/control and post-intervention/control (8 weeks after the first assessment).

    Functional performance was assessed by Functional Reach Adapted Test

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Marco Aurélio Vaz, PhD

Other

Collaborators

  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Corporal Suspension and Pendulum Exercises on Torque, Muscle Activation, Muscle Thickness and Functionality in Patients With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Dec 12, 2014
Registry last updated
Dec 12, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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