Assessing Cardiovascular Effects: Is There a Time Too Early for Spinal Stimulation in Acute SCI? A Year-Long Evaluation of Autonomic Function Following Injury
The study aims to explore how cardiovascular function changes in the first year after a spinal cord injury, and to see how different treatments, like spinal stimulation through the skin (transcutaneous spinal stimulation), affect blood pressure. The main questions are: How does stimulation affect blood pressure over the year? What is the level of cardiovascular activation throughout the year? The study will start during the inpatient stay at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and continue after discharge as an outpatient, totaling about 20-29 sessions over the year.
• Individuals with a spinal cord injury undergoing inpatient rehabilitation at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
• Between 18-75 years old
• 7-50 days after injury
• Injury level ≥ T6 (a cervical or a high-level chest injury)
• Individuals experiencing low blood pressure after the injury
• American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A or B