Telemonitored Exercise to Attenuate Metabolic Dysregulation in Spinal Cord Injury

Telemonitored Exercise to Attenuate Metabolic Dysregulation in Spinal Cord Injury (TEAM-SCI)

The purpose of this research is to test the health benefits of using functional electrical stimulation for lower extremity exercise at home.

The specific objectives are to assess the impact of 16 weeks of home-based telemonitored functional electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometry (FESLCE) exercise on body composition and metabolic health in adults with C4-T4 motor complete SCI. This study is available only to those who were previously enrolled in the SCIENCE protocol #20190659 that were randomized to the diet alone group. After completing the dietary intervention, those individuals will have an opportunity to experience FES bicycle.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women of child-bearing potential who agree to refrain from getting pregnant during the trial
• Previously enrolled in the SCIENCE protocol (NCT03495986) randomized to the diet alone group in SCIENCE, and are willing to complete an 8-week (2 month) washout period after the completion of the dietary intervention in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Do not meet inclusion criteria above

• Those who have participated in a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) or ACE exercise program (>60 minutes/week) within the past 3 months

• Self-reported or documented history of:

  • orthopedic limitations
  • coronary artery disease
  • type 1 diabetes mellitus; insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetes mellitus; untreated Type 2 diabetes mellitus
  • untreated hypothyroidism
  • renal disease
  • uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia, recent (within 3 months)
  • deep vein thrombosis (within the past 3 months)

• On anticoagulation therapy

• Pressure injuries > Grade II

• Decisional impairment

• Prisoners

• Pregnant or nursing women

• Any potential causes of autonomic dysreflexia at the discretion of the PI