The Effects of an Acute High-intensity Exercise on Heart and Brain Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Description

The heart and brain are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Control of these organs can be disrupted in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This may affect their ability to regulate blood pressure during daily activities and process the high-level information. Previous studies show that high-intensity exercise induces better outcomes on heart and information processing ability in non-injured people compared to moderate-intensity exercise. However, it is unknown the effects of high-intensity exercise on heart and brain function in people with SCI. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of a single bout of high-intensity interval training on heart and brain function in this people with SCI compared to age- and sex-matched non-injured controls.

Conditions

Autonomic Nervous System Disease, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cognition

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The heart and brain are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Control of these organs can be disrupted in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). This may affect their ability to regulate blood pressure during daily activities and process the high-level information. Previous studies show that high-intensity exercise induces better outcomes on heart and information processing ability in non-injured people compared to moderate-intensity exercise. However, it is unknown the effects of high-intensity exercise on heart and brain function in people with SCI. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of a single bout of high-intensity interval training on heart and brain function in this people with SCI compared to age- and sex-matched non-injured controls.

The Effects of an Acute High-intensity Interval Training on Heart and Brain Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury

The Effects of an Acute High-intensity Exercise on Heart and Brain Function in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Condition
Autonomic Nervous System Disease
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Buffalo

University at Buffalo, South Campus, Buffalo, New York, United States, 14214

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Diagnosed with a traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury and have ≥4/5 strength in at least one cervical 5 myotome (elbow flexors), allowing to utilize the arm ergometer and level of injury at or above the 6th thoracic vertebra
  • 2. Classified as A, B, C, D (motor and sensory complete or incomplete) on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS)
  • 3. Longer than 6 months post the onset of injury and have been discharged to the community from inpatient rehabilitation prior to enrollment
  • 4. English is the first language
  • 5. At least one of the cerebral arteries (i.e., middle cerebral artery and/or posterior cerebral artery) can be found via transcranial Doppler
  • 1. Medical conditions that preclude exercise, such as unstable angina, uncontrolled arrhythmias, a recent history of congestive heart failure that has not been evaluated and effectively treated, severe valvular disease, uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., resting systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 105 mmHg)
  • 2. Moderate-severe traumatic brain injury
  • 3. Diabetes
  • 4. Color blindness
  • 5. Pre-existing shoulder injuries
  • 6. Pregnancy

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

State University of New York at Buffalo,

Wenjie Ji, MS, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University at Buffalo

Study Record Dates

2025-08-31