Review
Neurosciences
Sarah Flett, Juanita Garcia, Kristine C. Cowley
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to various dysfunctions, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. In addition to inadequate voluntary muscle activation, the lack of activation in the sympathetic neural circuitry and suboptimal activation of homeostatic and metabolic support systems are the main factors limiting exercise capacity. Electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) studies have shown potential benefits in improving exercise-related autonomic functions. A systematic review of clinical SCS studies in this area revealed that most research focused on investigating improvements in blood pressure regulation, while reports of improvements in temperature regulation, whole body metabolism, and peak exercise performance were mainly anecdotal. The effectiveness of stimulation locations and parameters varied between studies, suggesting the influence of multiple stimulation parameters and spinal locations on the same sympathetic function.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Jill M. Wecht, Joseph P. Weir, Meghana Noonavath, Daniel H. Vaccaro, Miguel X. Escalon, Vincent Huang, Thomas N. Bryce
Summary: The study aimed to determine the utility of ISNCSCI and ISAFSCI in documenting cardiovascular ANS impairment during inpatient rehabilitation following traumatic SCI, and found that neither method was sensitive to changes in cardiovascular function.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Brandon A. Yates, Robert Brown, Glen Picard, J. Andrew Taylor
Summary: Twelve weeks of functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing exercise training can improve pulmonary function and reduce systemic inflammation in individuals with sub-acute spinal cord injury (SCI).
EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
David R. Dolbow, Ashraf S. Gorgey, Tommy W. Sutor, Vanesa Bochkezanian, Kristin Musselman
Summary: This review summarizes the latest evidence on the invasive and non-invasive uses of electrical stimulation therapies for spinal cord injury patients, focusing on neuromuscular and functional electrical stimulation activities. The review also discusses recommendations for optimizing stimulation parameters and the use of stimulation to enhance daily living activities such as reaching, grasping, standing, and walking.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Belinda Ruettimann, Claudio Perret, Jill A. Parnell, Joelle Leonie Flueck
Summary: This review focuses on the nutritional needs of athletes with an SCI, particularly the importance of carbohydrates (CHO) for health and performance. It analyzes factors influencing CHO needs, provides a model calculation for CHO requirements during endurance events, and evaluates the effectiveness of CHO supplementation and intake in this population.
Review
Physiology
Shin Yi Chiou, Emma Clarke, Chi Lam, Tom Harvey, Tom E. Nightingale
Summary: This review examines the effects of arm-crank exercise (ACE) on fitness and health in adults with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). The findings suggest that ACE can improve cardiorespiratory fitness, but the effects on other outcomes are uncertain. More high-quality studies are needed to increase the evidence level and determine the effects of ACE on other outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nicole M. Vecin, David R. Gater
Summary: This manuscript reviews the risk of pressure injuries caused by spinal cord injury and discusses the multidisciplinary approach required to prevent and treat these injuries in the vulnerable population.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Rehabilitation
Noelle E. Carlozzi, Michael A. Kallen, Kel G. Morin, Denise C. Fyffe, Jill M. Wecht
Summary: This study developed and calibrated the new Blood Pressure Dysregulation Measurement System (BPD-MS) item banks for assessing the impact of blood pressure dysregulation on health-related quality of life and daily activities of both Veterans and non-Veterans with spinal cord injury. Using rigorous measurement development standards, the researchers created a comprehensive item bank consisting of 150 items and 10-item short forms specifically tailored for the SCI population.
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lu Qin, Jian Cui, Jianhua Li
Summary: This review discusses the impact of sympathetic nerve activity on blood pressure in patients with peripheral artery disease and the related neural mechanisms, and proposes intervention strategies to improve the deleterious effects of exercise-induced blood pressure changes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Orthopedics
Koki Tan, Soichiro Koyama, Hiroaki Sakurai, Toshio Teranishi, Yoshikiyo Kanada, Shigeo Tanabe
Summary: The analysis of 28 articles involving 228 patients revealed the clinical effectiveness of WREs in gait reconstruction for SCI patients, with a wide range of training procedures. Further improvements are needed for practical use in daily life.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC TRANSLATION
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Jian Cui, Cheryl Blaha, Urs A. Leuenberger, Lawrence Sinoway
Summary: The study indicates that reflex responses to venous distension are preserved during sympathetic activation mediated by the muscle metaboreflex. This suggests that muscle metaboreflex does not modulate the venous distension reflex.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Tan Lai Zhou, Abraham A. Kroon, Ronald M. A. Henry, Annemarie Koster, Pieter C. Dagnelie, Hans Bosma, Marleen M. J. van Greevenbroek, Carla J. H. van der Kallen, Casper G. Schalkwijk, Anke Wesselius, Koen D. Reesink, Sebastian Koehler, Miranda T. Schram, Coen D. A. Stehouwer, Thomas T. van Sloten
Summary: The study found that a higher exercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) response is associated with a higher incidence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms, even after adjusting for multiple potential confounding factors.
JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Julia Kathrin Baumgart, Gertjan Ettema, Katy E. Griggs, Victoria Louise Goosey-Tolfrey, Christof Andreas Leicht
Summary: This study compared the use of breakpoint models and no-breakpoint models to fit respiratory data obtained during upper-body modality exercise in wheelchair athletes with spinal cord injury. The results showed that both models had similar fits for determining the ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Physiology
Martin G. Schultz, Andre La Gerche, James E. Sharman
Summary: To correctly interpret exaggerated exercise blood pressure (EEBP), both cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise workload should be taken into consideration. A key recommendation is to measure exercise blood pressure during submaximal exercise with a fixed external workload.
EXERCISE AND SPORT SCIENCES REVIEWS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Takuro Washio, Shigehiko Ogoh
Summary: Exercise is beneficial for preventing cognitive dysfunction, but the physiological mechanism(s) of how it improves cognitive function remains unclear, leading to the lack of an established exercise prescription for preventing dementia. However, recent research suggests that individual differences in cardiovascular responses to exercise or its associated physiological factors may be related to exercise-induced changes in cognitive function. Considering individual cardiovascular responses is therefore important when developing exercise prescriptions to prevent cognitive dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Huayi Xing, Nan Liu, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Fin Biering-Sorensen
Summary: The study investigated medical students' baseline knowledge of autonomic functions and the ISAFSCI, finding that self-study using the ISAFSCI booklet alone was not sufficient to obtain baseline knowledge. Formal lecture or presentation is recommended to improve the effectiveness of learning the ISAFSCI for medical students.
JOURNAL OF SPINAL CORD MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Shane J. T. Balthazaar, Morten Sengelov, Kim Bartholdy, Lasse Malmqvist, Martin Ballegaard, Birgitte Hansen, Jesper Hastrup Svendsen, Anders Kruse, Karen-Lise Welling, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Fin Biering-Sorensen, Tor Biering-Sorensen
Summary: At the six-month timepoint following traumatic SCI, there were no significant differences in occurrences of arrhythmias between participants with cervical and thoracic SCI compared to the findings observed in the first month following SCI. Bradycardia was present in 29% and 33% of participants with cervical and thoracic SCI, respectively, six months after SCI. The mean maximum HR increased significantly from 4 weeks to 6 months post-SCI, however mean minimum and maximum HR were not significantly different between the groups at the six-month time point.
JOURNAL OF SPINAL CORD MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Amanda H. X. Lee, Emmanuel K. Tse, Thomas E. Nightingale, Rahul Sachdeva, Matthias Walter, Andrei Krassioukov
Summary: This study investigated the patterns and perceptions of cannabis use among women with spinal cord injury (SCI), as well as the knowledge of physicians regarding recreational and synthetic cannabinoids. The results showed that some women used cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding, mainly for sleep aid and relief of morning sickness. Most physicians had poor knowledge of recreational cannabis products but were more knowledgeable about synthetic cannabinoids.
JOURNAL OF SPINAL CORD MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, Kangxin Wang, Maryam Fourtassi, Catherine Stratton, Laura Paulina Munoz-Velasco, Abderrazak Hajjioui, Rory Cooper, Joseph K. Balikuddembe, Mark Peterson, Uma Pandiyan, Andrei Krassioukov, Deo Rishi Tripathi, Angela Palomba, Bo-Young Hong
Summary: This study aimed to examine the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the physical and mental health and healthy lifestyle behaviors of people with disabilities living in the community. A web-based global survey was conducted, collecting 3550 responses from 65 countries over a period of 3 months. The results showed that people with disabilities experienced a greater decrease in physical activity levels, reduced intake of fruits and vegetables, and decreased sleep duration compared to those without disabilities.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Katherine Gray, Whitley Sheehan, Laura McCracken, Klaus Krogh, Rahul Sachdeva, Andrei V. Krassioukov
Summary: This systematic review examines the use of local analgesics, specifically lidocaine or bupivacaine, to prevent autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The review finds that lidocaine has a beneficial effect on AD in some studies, but the small sample sizes and conflicting results highlight the need for larger, well-monitored clinical trials.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lauren Rietchel, Andrea L. Ramirez, Shea Hocaloski, Stacy Elliott, Matthias Walter, Andrei Krassioukov
Summary: This study found that autonomic dysreflexia (AD)-associated heart rate changes during penile vibrostimulation (PVS) and urodynamic studies (UDS) appear to be related to the magnitude of systolic blood pressure increases. Highly elevated systolic blood pressure with bradycardia suggests the presence of severe AD. Cardiovascular monitoring and early detection of AD are recommended during PVS and UDS to reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Matthias Walter, Andrea L. Ramirez, Amanda H. X. Lee, Thomas E. Nightingale, Daniel Rapoport, Alex Kavanagh, Andrei V. Krassioukov
Summary: This study demonstrates that fesoterodine can alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary incontinence in patients with chronic spinal cord injury, improving their quality of life. During the treatment period, patients experienced increased cystometric capacity, decreased maximum detrusor pressure, alleviation of symptoms related to neurogenic detrusor overactivity, as well as a reduction in the severity and frequency of autonomic dysreflexia events.
JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
(2023)
Article
Rehabilitation
Adam Mesa, Mark Grasdal, Sarah Leong, Nikolaus A. Dean, Arshdeep Marwaha, Amanda Lee, Michael J. Berger, Andrea Bundon, Andrei Krassioukov
Summary: This study examined the perceived influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with spinal cord injury, focusing on the use and perception of telehealth services and the impact on mental health.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Zoe K. Sarafis, Jordan W. Squair, Otto F. Barak, Geoff B. Coombs, Jan Elaine Soriano, Kelly A. Larkin-Kaiser, Amanda H. X. Lee, Alex Hansen, Maro Vodopic, Rinaldo Romac, Christopher Grant, Rebecca Charbonneau, Tanja Mijacika, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Philip N. Ainslie, Zeljko Dujic, Aaron A. Phillips
Summary: Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to impaired common carotid artery (CCA) responsiveness and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rahul Sachdeva, Ali Hosseinzadeh, Aaron Rizzardo, Andrea Maharaj, Michael Berger, Andrei Krassioukov
Summary: This study assessed the effects of oxycodone/naloxone on pain, constipation, and autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injury patients. The results showed that oxycodone/naloxone improved pain, bowel function, and severity of autonomic dysreflexia.
ANNALS OF CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Rajat Emanuel Singh, Aliya Ahmadi, Ann M. Parr, Uzma Samadani, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Theoden I. Netoff, David P. Darrow
Summary: Multiple studies have shown that epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS) can restore volitional motor control in participants with motor-complete spinal cord injury (SCI). However, there has been a lack of rigorous quantitative descriptions of muscle coordination. In this study, six participants with chronic SCI underwent a brain motor control assessment (BMCA) to investigate the impact of eSCS on muscle activity complexity and muscle synergies. Results showed that eSCS immediately reduced muscle activity complexity and improved coordination between muscle groups over time. Muscle synergies were also restored with eSCS, supporting the neural hypothesis of muscle synergies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Soshi Samejima, Claire Shackleton, Raza N. Malik, Kawami Cao, Anibal Bohorquez, Tom E. Nightingale, Rahul Sachdeva, Andrei V. Krassioukov
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to severe cardiovascular dysfunction, and autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is one of the causes of high blood pressure in SCI patients. Recently, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been considered as a potential intervention to alleviate unstable blood pressure after SCI. This case series demonstrates the real-time effect of epidural SCS (eSCS) at the lumbosacral spinal cord in mitigating AD in individuals with SCI.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tiev Miller, Dirk Lange, Jayachandran N. Kizhakkedathu, Kai Yu, Demian Felix, Soshi Samejima, Claire Shackleton, Raza N. Malik, Rahul Sachdeva, Matthias Walter, Andrei V. Krassioukov
Summary: Despite the common practice of catheter reuse in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a risk of developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). This study investigated the microbiological burden and surface changes of reused catheters in the short term. The results showed the presence of bacterial biofilm and antibiotic-resistant bacteria on all reused catheter surfaces, as well as asymptomatic bacteriuria in the majority of participants. These findings suggest that short-term catheter reuse may increase the susceptibility to CAUTI in SCI individuals.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Fredrika S. Magnuson, Peter Christensen, Andrei Krassioukov, Gianna Rodriguez, Anton Emmanuel, Steven Kirshblum, Klaus Krogh
Summary: Neurogenic bowel dysfunction is a common problem among individuals with spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis, often resulting in constipation, difficulty with bowel evacuation, and fecal incontinence. The current treatment algorithm does not fully align with clinical practice, calling for an updated version to guide healthcare professionals in treating NBD.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Daniel D. Hodgkiss, Gurjeet S. Bhangu, Carole Lunny, Catherine R. Jutzeler, Shin-Yi Chiou, Matthias Walter, Samuel J. E. Lucas, Andrei V. Krassioukov, Tom E. Nightingale
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to low cardiorespiratory fitness, but exercise can improve it. This study aimed to assess whether certain SCI characteristics and exercise considerations can moderate changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.