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Breathing Low Oxygen for Limb Mobility After Spinal Injury

This study is looking at how breathing mild, low-oxygen air (called intermittent hypoxia or AIH) might help people with spinal cord injuries improve their limb movement. Participants will breathe low-oxygen air through a mask, or practice walking, or practice ankle strength exercises. Researchers want to see if AIH helps improve walking endurance and muscle strength. You might be able to join if you are 18-75 years old, have a motor-incomplete spinal cord injury that happened over a year ago, and can move your legs voluntarily. The study aims to understand how AIH improves movement and helps the nervous system adapt after injury.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 44 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
Participants will receive interventions like breathing low oxygen, walking practice, or strength practice. Measurements will be taken at baseline, immediately after intervention (day 1 and day 5), and at follow-ups.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for one week and two weeks after the intervention period.

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NCT02323945

Effects of Breathing Mild Bouts of Low Oxygen on Limb Mobility After Spinal Injury

Recruiting
NAAges 18–75InterventionalTreatment
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
~44 participants
Updated 2026-03-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:AIHWalkStrength

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in overground walking endurance
Measured over Baseline, immediately after intervention (day 1 and day 5), and at follow-ups (one week and two weeks)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Explore related trials

Spinal Cord Injury

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1

Study leadership

  • Randy D Trumbower, PT, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Who to contact

Randy D Trumbower, PT, PhD
[email protected]
617-952-6951
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 18 and 75 years (the latter to reduce likelihood of heart disease)
Medical clearance to participate
Lesion at or below C2 and above T12 with non-progressive etiology
Classified as motor-incomplete with visible volitional leg movement
Injury greater than 1 year

Exclusion

Concurrent severe medical illness (i.e., infection, cardiovascular disease, ossification, recurrent autonomic dysreflexia, unhealed decubiti, and history of pulmonary complications)
Pregnant women because of the unknown affects of AIH on pregnant women and fetus
History of seizures, brain injury, and/or epilepsy
Undergoing concurrent physical therapy
Diabetes
Cirrhosis
Caffeine and/or NSAID allergies or intolerances

What this trial measures

  • Change in overground walking enduranceBaseline, immediately after intervention (day 1 and day 5), and at follow-ups (one week and two weeks)

    Endurance will be measured as the distance walked during 2 min and 6 min (6MWT).

  • Change in muscle strengthBaseline, immediately after intervention (day 1 and day 5), and at follow-ups (one week and two weeks)

    Strength will be assessed as the maximum isometric torque produced by the ankle and measured by a 6 degrees-of-freedom (DOF) load cell.