Publications by authors named "Michael S A Richardson"
Context: Rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI) relies on the use of exercise training, which has limited functional gains. There is a need to develop more efficient approaches to facilitate recovery after SCI.
Methods: This review focuses on a neuromodulation method where transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex is paired with transcutaneous electrical stimulation over a peripheral nerve to induce plasticity at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses.
The Potential of Corticospinal-Motoneuronal Plasticity for Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury.
Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep
September 2020
Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on a relatively new neuromodulation method where transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex is paired with transcutaneous electrical stimulation over a peripheral nerve to induce plasticity at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses.
Recent Findings: Recovery of sensorimotor function after spinal cord injury largely depends on transmission in the corticospinal pathway. Significantly damaged corticospinal axons fail to regenerate and participate in functional recovery.
Paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS) elicits spinal synaptic plasticity in humans with chronic incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we examined whether PCMS-induced plasticity could be potentiated by acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH), a treatment also known to induce spinal synaptic plasticity in humans with chronic incomplete cervical SCI. During PCMS, we used 180 pairs of stimuli where corticospinal volleys evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation over the hand representation of the primary motor cortex were timed to arrive at corticospinal-motoneuronal synapses of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle ~1-2 ms before the arrival of antidromic potentials elicited in motoneurons by electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report on healthcare worker use of a safe zone (outside a 3-foot perimeter around the patient's bed) and personal protective equipment in 2 inpatient spinal cord injury/disorder units. Workers remained within the safe zone during 22% of observations but were less compliant with personal protective equipment inside the zone. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:714-716.
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- The study aimed to evaluate a nurse-led educational program on preventing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Veterans with spinal cord injuries, focusing on its feasibility and impact on patients' knowledge and behavior.
- Conducted as a randomized controlled trial at two VA centers, participants were divided into a group receiving the intervention and a usual care group, with educational materials provided to the intervention group.
- Results showed improved knowledge in the intervention group, with significant increases in intentions to practice MRSA prevention behaviors, although overall behavior changes were not statistically different between groups; nurse educators rated the intervention highly, indicating it could be effectively implemented in clinical settings.
Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent cause of healthcare-associated infection. Individuals with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) are at high risk of MRSA colonization and infection. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released guidelines to prevent the spread of MRSA in Veterans with SCI/D; however, available patient educational materials did not address the unique issues for this population.
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