Daily acute intermittent hypoxia combined with walking practice enhances walking performance but not intralimb motor coordination in persons with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

This study explored how combining Acute Intermittent Hypoxia (low oxygen breathing) and walking practice affects walking performance and coordination in people with chronic complete spinal cord injuries. Results suggest that this combination increases walking speeds and distances, but may not have any effect on limb coordination while walking. Surprisingly to the researchers, the largest improvements…

Acute intermittent hypoxia as a potential adjuvant to improve walking following spinal cord injury: evidence, challenges, and future directions

This review article summarizes research on the effect of breathing low oxygen (acute intermittent hypoxia, AIH) on walking recovery in people with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury. The authors discuss barriers to using AIH as a treatment in clinical practice, including that some people benefit less from AIH for various reasons. Although it appears safe…

Therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia: A translational roadmap for spinal cord injury and neuromuscular disease

This article presents a comprehensive review of the promising use of mild acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) as a therapeutic treatment to improve movement in people with spinal cord injury. It also highlights the gaps in knowledge about therapeutic AIH that require attention for it to be successfully translated from an experimental method to use in the…

A Wearable Mixed Reality Platform to Augment Overground Walking: A Feasibility Study

The authors developed and used the Microsoft HoloLens MR-HMD to provide real-time walking speed targets and provided augmented visual feedback.   Normal adults were asked to walk at their 85%, 100% and 115% of self-selected walking speed.  Most participants were able to match their walking speed to the virtual reality target speed.  Of note, we found…

Caffeine Enhances Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Gains in Walking Function for People with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) often leads to long-term walking difficulties, and there is a need for effective treatments. Breathing low oxygen (acute intermittent hypoxia or AIH) has shown potential for improving walking function in people with iSCI, but adenosine buildup can limit its effectiveness. This study examined whether caffeine, which blocks adenosine receptors, could…

A single sequence of intermittent hypoxia does not alter stretch reflex excitability in able-bodied individuals

The study examined the connection between acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) and stretch reflex pathways that could potentially lead to spasticity. It specifically looked at the effect of a single exposure to AIH on the sensitivity and excitability of the stretch reflex in muscles of healthy, able-bodied individuals. The results showed no significant change in reflex excitability, meaning there was no evidence…

A Research Protocol to Study the Priming Effects of Breathing Low Oxygen on Enhancing Training-Related Gains in Walking Function for Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: The BO2ST Trial

Therapeutic acute intermittent hypoxia (tAIH), or brief low-oxygen breathing, may enhance transcutaneous spinal stimulation-enhanced walking therapy (WALKtSTIM), a treatment designed to improve walking in people with chronic (>1 year) spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pre-clinical studies in rodents show that combining tAIH with WALKtSTIM boosts neural plasticity, leading to better recovery. We are conducting a multi-site clinical…

Non-invasive spinal cord electrical stimulation for arm and hand function in chronic tetraplegia: a safety and efficacy trial

Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) often cause permanent difficulties with arm and hand movement. Our lab participated in a study to test ARCEX Therapy, a new treatment that uses electrical stimulation applied over the cervical spinal cord during rehabilitation to improve these functions. Sixty participants with chronic SCI took part in the trial, which focused…