Making the Invisible Visible: Understanding Autonomic Dysfunctions Following Spinal Cord Injury.

Autonomic dysfunctions are a major challenge to individuals following spinal cord injury. Despite this, these consequences receive far less attention compared with motor recovery. This review will highlight the major autonomic dysfunctions following SCI predominantly based on our present understanding of the anatomy and physiology of autonomic control and available clinical data.

Effects of exercise on autonomic cardiovascular control in individuals with chronic, motor-complete spinal cord injury: an exploratory randomised clinical trial.

Study Design: Secondary analysis of a clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of 6 months of arm cycle ergometry training (ACET), or body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT), on autonomic cardiovascular responses to a laboratory sit-up test (SUT) in individuals with chronic (≥1-year post-injury) spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Tertiary Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, Canada.

Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction after SCI: A Comparison between India and Canada.

Background: The inclusion of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in research has allowed for an informed understanding of priorities of recovery of which bowel dysfunction and bladder dysfunction have been continuously identified. Research has also demonstrated the global disparities in SCI outcomes particularly when comparing high- and low-income countries. Currently, there is a lack of direct comparison between countries when assessing SCI outcomes.

Cerebrovascular Reactivity Following Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Spinal cord injuries (SCI) often result in cardiovascular issues, increasing the risk of stroke and cognitive deficits.

Objectives: This study assessed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a hypercapnic challenge in SCI participants compared to noninjured controls.

Methods: Fourteen participants were analyzed ( = 8 with SCI [unless otherwise noted], median age = 44 years; = 6 controls, median age = 33 years).

Breastfeeding Following Spinal Cord Injury: Consumer Guide for Mothers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that infants be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of age. However, there are few resources available on the effects a spinal cord injury (SCI) can have for breastfeeding mothers. It is difficult to find information to address the unique challenges women with SCI experience when planning or trying to breastfeed.

Lived Experiences of Sexuality and Sexual Functioning in Males with SCI: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in males with spinal cord injury (SCI) and has been recognized to be a key recovery priority.

Objectives: This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study aimed to investigate the major themes linked to sexual functioning in males with chronic (>1 year) SCI.

Methods: Twenty male participants with SCI, aged 25 to 59 years, completed validated questionnaires exploring sexual function/satisfaction and health-related quality of life and a semi-structured interview with an experienced sexual medicine physician.

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

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent impairment of arm and hand functions. Here we conducted a prospective, single-arm, multicenter, open-label, non-significant risk trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of ARC Therapy to improve arm and hand functions in people with chronic SCI. ARC Therapy involves the delivery of externally applied electrical stimulation over the cervical spinal cord during structured rehabilitation.

Web-Based Information on Spinal Cord Stimulation: Qualitative Assessment of Publicly Accessible Online Resources.

Background: Despite the growing accessibility of web-based information related to spinal cord stimulation (SCS), the content and quality of commonly encountered websites remain unknown.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the content and quality of web-based information on SCS.

Methods: This qualitative study was prospectively registered in Open Science Framework.

Autonomic dysreflexia in urological practice: pathophysiology, prevention and treatment considerations.

Purpose: Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to sensorimotor impairments; however, it can also be complicated by significant autonomic dysfunction, including cardiovascular and lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunctions. Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a dangerous cardiovascular complication of SCI often overlooked by healthcare professionals. AD is characterized by a sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) that can result in severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications.

REPORT-SCS: minimum reporting standards for spinal cord stimulation studies in spinal cord injury.

Electrical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has emerged as a promising therapy for recovery of motor and autonomic dysfunctions following spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite the rise in studies using SCS for SCI complications, there are no standard guidelines for reporting SCS parameters in research publications, making it challenging to compare, interpret or reproduce reported effects across experimental studies.To develop guidelines for minimum reporting standards for SCS parameters in pre-clinical and clinical SCI research, we gathered an international panel of expert clinicians and scientists.

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Adults with a Spinal Cord Injury: A Laboratory Framework and Case Series.

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-F) is a neurocardiac self-regulation therapy that aims to regulate cardiac autonomic nervous system activity and improve cardiac balance. Despite benefits in various clinical populations, no study has reported the effects of HRV-F in adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI). This article provides an overview of a neuropsychophysiological laboratory framework and reports the impact of an HRV-F training program on two adults with chronic SCI (T1 AIS A and T3 AIS C) with different degrees of remaining cardiac autonomic function.

Exercise and aerobic capacity in individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: A low level of cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF; defined as peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2peak) or peak power output (PPO)] is a widely reported consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI) and a major risk factor associated with chronic disease. However, CRF can be modified by exercise. This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression aimed to assess whether certain SCI characteristics and/or specific exercise considerations are moderators of changes in CRF.

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury and Multiple Sclerosis-An Updated and Simplified Treatment Algorithm.

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is a common condition in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) or multiple sclerosis (MS). It usually entails constipation, difficult evacuation of the rectum, and fecal incontinence (FI); often in combination. It is highly burdensome for affected patients and is correlated with poor quality of life.

Risk factors for urinary tract infections associated with lower quality of life among intermittent catheter users.

Background: Evidence shows that intermittent catheterisation (IC) for bladder emptying is linked to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and poor quality of life (QoL).

Aim: To investigate the association between UTI risk factors and QoL and patient-reported UTIs respectively.

Methods: A survey was distributed to IC users from 13 countries.

Construct validity of the international standards to document remaining autonomic function after spinal cord injury (ISAFSCI) (1st edition).

Study Design: Observational study.

Objectives: To assess the construct validity of the International Standards to Document Remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI) (2012 1st Edition).

Setting: Two Canadian spinal cord injury (SCI) centers.

Blood pressure trajectory of inpatient stroke rehabilitation patients from the Determining Optimal Post-Stroke Exercise (DOSE) trial over the first 12 months post-stroke.

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is the primary risk factor for recurrent strokes. Despite established clinical guidelines, some stroke survivors exhibit uncontrolled BP over the first 12 months post-stroke. Furthermore, research on BP trajectories in stroke survivors admitted to inpatient rehabilitation hospitals is limited.

Cardiovascular Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation: The Highs, the Lows, and the Don't Knows.

Background And Objectives: There are many potential etiologies of impaired cardiovascular control, from chronic stress to neurodegenerative conditions or central nervous system lesions. Since 1959, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been reported to modulate blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability (HRV), yet the specific stimulation sites and parameters to induce a targeted cardiovascular (CV) change for mitigating abnormal hemodynamics remain unclear. To investigate the ability and parameters of SCS to modulate the CV, we reviewed clinical studies using SCS with reported HR, BP, or HRV findings.

sPinal cOrd neUromodulatioN to treat Cerebral palsy in pEdiatrics: POUNCE Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) affects up to 4 children in 1,000 live births, making it the most common motor disorder in children. It impairs the child's ability to move voluntarily and maintain balance and posture, and results in a wide range of other functional disorders during early development impairments in various sensory modalities, e.g.