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Effects of Breathing Mild Bouts of Low Oxygen on Limb Mobility After Spinal Injury

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · with Foundation Wings For Life, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) · NCT02323945

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–75 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
44
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
October 2014
Record last updated
March 20, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Accumulating evidence suggests that repeatedly breathing low oxygen levels for brief periods (termed intermittent hypoxia) is a safe and effective treatment strategy to promote meaningful functional recovery in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The goal of the study is to understand the mechanisms by which intermittent hypoxia enhances motor function and spinal plasticity (ability of the nervous system to strengthen neural pathways based on new experiences) following SCI.

Being studied: AIH; Walk; Strength

Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18 and 75 years (the latter to reduce likelihood of heart disease)
  • Medical clearance to participate
  • Lesion at or below C2 and above T12 with non-progressive etiology
  • Classified as motor-incomplete with visible volitional leg movement
  • Injury greater than 1 year

Exclusion Criteria

  • Concurrent severe medical illness (i.e., infection, cardiovascular disease, ossification, recurrent autonomic dysreflexia, unhealed decubiti, and history of pulmonary complications)
  • Pregnant women because of the unknown affects of AIH on pregnant women and fetus
  • History of seizures, brain injury, and/or epilepsy
  • Undergoing concurrent physical therapy
  • Diabetes
  • Cirrhosis
  • Caffeine and/or NSAID allergies or intolerances

Recruiting US locations

  • Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

    Cambridge, MA 02138

    Site contact: Randy D Trumbower, PT, PhD · (617) 952-6951 · randy.trumbower@mgh.harvard.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Randy D Trumbower, PT, PhD · 617-952-6951 · randy.trumbower@mgh.harvard.edu
  • Stella Barth, BA · 617-952-6822 · sbarth@partners.org
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Effects of Breathing Mild Bouts of Low Oxygen on Limb Mobility… (NCT02323945) | Bored Studies