The Effects of Eccentric Compared to Standard Strength Training in Primary Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

The Effects of Eccentric Compared to Standard Strength Training in Primary Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation - a Matched-Pair Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of eccentric arm-crank (KREHA) training compared to standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training in individuals undergoing primary spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.

The main questions this trail aims to answer are:

• what are the effects of the training on upper body strength, aerobic performance, muscle volume, functional independence, and health-related quality of life?
• is the KREHA training feasible to implement into the rehabilitation routine?

Participants will:

• perform either 20 KREHA sessions or 20 STAN sessions within 12 weeks
• perform a test battery to collect data on training effects before (pretest) and after (posttest) the study intervention

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older.
• informed consent as confirmed per signature.
• traumatic or disease-related SCI.
• participating in the routine strength training program during primary SCI rehabilitation at the study center (generally this is initiated around one month after SCI onset).
• wheelchair dependency during activities of daily living, defined by a score of 0-2 in the SCIM subsection regarding "Mobility in the house".
• passed sports medical assessment and having sufficient biceps/triceps function to perform arm-crank training, as determined by an experienced sports medicine physician

Exclusion Criteria:

• inflammatory or neurodegenerative diseases (including multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome).
• comorbidities or other health issues that may interfere with study participation, inability or contraindications to undergo the investigated intervention.
• MRI contraindications (magnetic metal parts or electronic implants such as pacemakers in the body).
• pregnancy (anamnestic).