Improving Hand and Arm Function in Individuals with SCI

描述(申请人提供)：颈髓损伤患者通常将手和手臂功能丧失作为其损伤最具破坏性的后果，但几乎没有可用的干预措施来改善慢性四肢瘫痪患者的手功能，这使得这一需求尚未得到满足。拟议的研究针对这一需要，通过检查旨在改善慢性四肢瘫痪患者熟练的手/手臂使用的康复干预措施。证据表明，虽然四肢瘫痪患者的手功能缺陷主要是由于皮质脊髓下行连接受损，其次，习得性不使用和皮质兴奋性降低可能导致皮质对剩余的脊髓连接的无效控制。这些继发性变化类似于中风后发生的变化，可能在某种程度上是可逆的。因此，有效改善中风后手/臂功能的干预措施也可能对四肢瘫痪患者有益。在中风患者中，高强度的上肢技能训练(大规模练习)与改善手的使用有关。另一种干预措施，体感刺激，已被证明可以增加非残疾个体的皮质兴奋性，并改善中风患者的力量。通过应用已创新的中风康复策略，我们的初步结果表明，集中练习和体感刺激可以改善慢性不完全性四肢瘫痪患者的手/臂功能。这些改善可能伴随着皮质输出的改善，也可能与生活质量的改善有关。拟议的研究侧重于这些结果。在目标1中，我们将量化和比较与以下任一项相关的熟练手/臂使用、握力和感觉功能的变化：大规模练习训练、体感刺激、单独的体感刺激或对照干预(常规阻力训练)。在目标2中，我们将量化和比较与以下任一项相关的皮质神经生理学变化：集中练习体感刺激、单独体感刺激或对照干预。在目标3中，我们将量化和比较与集体练习体感刺激、单独的体感刺激或对照干预相关的生活质量和社会参与自我评估的变化。我们相信，拟议的研究结果将对因脊髓损伤而导致的不完全性四肢瘫痪患者的功能和生活质量产生积极影响。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Individuals with cervical spinal cord injury often cite loss of hand and arm function as the most devastating consequence of their injury, yet there are few interventions available to improve hand function in individuals with chronic tetraplegia, making this an unmet need. The proposed studies target this need by examining rehabilitation interventions designed to improve skilled hand/arm use in individuals with chronic tetraplegia. Evidence suggests that while deficits of hand function in individuals with tetraplegia are primarily due to damage to descending corticospinal connections, secondarily, learned non-use and decreased cortical excitability likely contribute to ineffective cortical control of the remaining connections to the spinal cord. These secondary changes resemble those that occur after stroke and may be reversible to some extent. Consequently, interventions that are effective for improving hand/arm function after stroke may also be of benefit for individuals with tetraplegia. In individuals with stroke, intensive upper extremity skill training (massed practice) is associated with improved use of the hand. Another intervention, somatosensory stimulation, has been shown to increase cortical excitability in non-disabled individuals and to improve strength in individuals with stroke. By applying strategies that have been innovated for stroke rehabilitation, our preliminary results suggest that massed practice and somatosensory stimulation can improve hand/arm function in individuals with chronic incomplete tetraplegia. These improvements may be accompanied by improved cortical output and may also be associated with improvements in quality of life. The proposed studies focus on these outcomes. In Aim 1, we will quantify and compare changes in skilled hand/arm use, grip force and sensory function associated with either: massed practice training + somatosensory stimulation, somatosensory stimulation alone, or a control intervention (conventional resistance training). In Aim 2, we will quantify and compare changes in cortical neurophysiology associated with either: massed practice + somatosensory stimulation, somatosensory stimulation alone, or a control intervention. In Aim 3, we will quantify and compare changes in self-assessment of quality of life and societal participation associated with massed practice + somatosensory stimulation, somatosensory stimulation alone, or a control intervention. We believe the outcomes of the proposed studies will have a positive influence on function and quality of life for individuals with incomplete tetraplegia due to spinal cord injury.