Testosterone and Long Pulse Stimulation After SCI
Summary
Denervation following spinal cord injury (SCI) limits beneficial application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). SCI with denervation results in extensive muscle atrophy that is accompanied with several cardio-metabolic health risks. The current proposal provides a novel intervention by examining the effects of long pulse width stimulation (LPWS) and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on restoring muscle size and leg lean mass after denervation in persons with SCI. This intervention will be rewarding for Veterans and Civilians with SCI who do not benefit from exercising their lower extremity muscles because denervation has limited the response to standard surface NMES. The investigators will study the biochemical mechanisms that contribute to changes in muscle size following this novel training. Combing both pharmaceutical and physical-therapeutic interventions will optimize restoration of muscle size after SCI.
Timeline
- Start
- 2018-07-01
- Primary completion
- 2023-06-30
- Completion
- 2023-11-30
Publications
- Background Gorgey AS, Khalil RE, Alrubaye M, Gill R, Rivers J, Goetz LL, Cifu DX, Castillo T, Caruso D, Lavis TD, Lesnefsky EJ, Cardozo CC, Adler RA. Testosterone and long pulse width stimulation (TLPS) for denervated muscles after spinal cord injury: a study protocol of randomised clinical trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Oct 5;12(10):e064748. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-064748.
- Results Alazzam AM, Goldsmith JA, Khalil RE, Khan MR, Gorgey AS. Denervation impacts muscle quality and knee bone mineral density after spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2023 Apr;61(4):276-284. doi: 10.1038/s41393-023-00885-3. Epub 2023 Mar 10.
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparator | Testosterone | Small molecule | — | — |