Publications by authors named "S C Kirshblum"
Article Synopsis
- - Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) above T6 often experience issues with blood pressure regulation, leading to persistent low blood pressure.
- - A study tested the effects of daily midodrine (10 mg) versus placebo over 30 days on blood pressure, cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv), and cognitive performance in hypotensive SCI patients.
- - Results showed that midodrine significantly increased systolic blood pressure and diastolic CBFv compared to placebo, but did not significantly affect cognitive performance, indicating a need for further research on effective treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) is a potential solution to improve blood pressure regulation in individuals with high-level spinal cord injuries, addressing issues like unstable blood pressure.
- Our study analyzed the effects of scTS applied at various vertebral locations on blood pressure in eight people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury.
- Results showed that stimulating the lumbosacral area (L1/2, S1/2, T11/12) significantly increased blood pressure, while stimulation in the cervical or upper thoracic regions did not have the same effect, indicating lumbosacral stimulation's potential benefits.
To enhance engagement and educational outcomes, game-based learning has been introduced into undergraduate and graduate medical education programs. Using a free website, "PM&R Connections", a serious game, was created to provide trainees with an alternative method of reviewing content to identify knowledge gaps to direct studying. The game was used by 19/33 trainees and 92.
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- The study investigates how robotic exoskeletons impact veterans with spinal cord injuries compared to using a regular wheelchair.
- It analyzes whether adding exoskeleton-assisted walking to standard wheelchair use leads to significant improvements in mental and physical health outcomes.
- The research was conducted as a randomized clinical trial involving 161 veteran participants across 15 Veterans Affairs medical centers over a 4-month period.
Central cord syndrome (CCS) is the most prevalent and debated incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) syndrome, with its hallmark feature being more pronounced weakness of the upper extremities than of the lower extremities. Varying definitions encapsulate multiple clinical features under the single umbrella term of CCS, complicating evaluation of its frequency, prognosis discussions, and outcomes research. Often, people with CCS are excluded from research protocols, as it is thought to have a favorable prognosis, but the vague nature of CCS raises doubts about the validity of this practice.
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