Urinary tract infections and urinary bladder health experiences of persons with spinal cord injury in a Canadian province: A mixed methods study showcasing infection prevention as health inequity case.

Context/objective: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most frequent secondary complications among people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The prevention and management of UTIs is prioritized by stakeholders across Canada. The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the urinary bladder (bladder) management experiences of people with SCI in Alberta communities, especially how UTIs are experienced and managed.

Timing and dosage of FES cycling early after acute spinal cord injury: A case series report.

Objective: To understand the progression in parameters of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling dosage (including duration, velocity, stimulation amplitudes, power output), and the resulting changes in muscle mass early after acute spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Three participants, 24-38 years old, with neurological injury level C4-T4, severity AIS (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) A-C, started FES cycling 16-20 days post injury while admitted at a level-1 trauma center in Canada, and continued for 8-13 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital. They performed three sessions/week of 15-45 min FES cycling, supine or sitting.

Interleaved neuromuscular electrical stimulation after spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) over a muscle belly (mNMES) recruits superficial motor units (MUs) preferentially, whereas NMES over a nerve trunk (nNMES) recruits MUs evenly throughout the muscle. We performed tests to determine whether "interleaving" pulses between the mNMES and nNMES sites (iNMES) reduces the fatigability of contractions for people experiencing paralysis because of chronic spinal cord injury.

Methods: Plantar flexion torque and soleus electromyography (M-waves) were recorded from 8 participants.

Long-latency, inhibitory spinal pathway to ankle flexors activated by homonymous group 1 afferents.

Inhibitory feedback from sensory pathways is important for controlling movement. Here, we characterize, for the first time, a long-latency, inhibitory spinal pathway to ankle flexors that is activated by low-threshold homonymous afferents. To examine this inhibitory pathway in uninjured, healthy participants, we suppressed motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), produced in the tibialis anterior (TA), by a prior stimulation to the homonymous common peroneal nerve (CPN).

H-reflexes reduce fatigue of evoked contractions after spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) over a muscle belly (mNMES) generates contractions predominantly through M-waves, while NMES over a nerve trunk (nNMES) can generate contractions through H-reflexes in people who are neurologically intact. We tested whether the differences between mNMES and nNMES are present in people with chronic motor-complete spinal cord injury and, if so, whether they influence contraction fatigue.

Methods: Plantar-flexion torque and soleus electromyography were recorded from 8 participants.

Electrical stimulation site influences the spatial distribution of motor units recruited in tibialis anterior.

Objective: To compare the spatial distribution of motor units recruited in tibialis anterior (TA) when electrical stimulation is applied over the TA muscle belly versus the common peroneal nerve trunk.

Methods: Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the surface and from fine wires in superficial and deep regions of TA. Separate M-wave recruitment curves were constructed for muscle belly and nerve trunk stimulation.