Current Research Projects

Below you will find brief descriptions of ongoing or upcoming research studies at Project Walk:

“Effect of activity-based therapies on neuroplasticity-related proteins in persons with spinal cord injury”

The primary aim of this study is to examine effects of various modalities of exercise onalterations in neuroplasticity-related proteins in men and women with SCI.  A secondary aim is to examine exercise-induced changes in these proteins across subjects differing in injury level and completeness of injury.

Changes in circulating neurotrophic factors in approximately 15-20 individuals with chronic or sub-acute     (> 8 weeks post injury) SCI will be measured. Subjects will complete an exercise session lasting two hours, consisting of 30 minutes of load bearing with passive movement (this will consist of use of a standing frame with a glider attachment), 30 minutes of whole body vibration (WBV), 30 minutes of body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT), and 30 minutes of functional electrical stimulation (FES) leg ergometry. Blood samples will be obtained pre-exercise (baseline) and after completion of each modality. Circulating serum concentrations of the following neurotrophins will be measured: BDNF, GDNF , NT-3, IGF-1, prolactin, and cortisol.

“Effect of Intense Multi-Modal Training on Bone Mineral Density, Bone Biomarkers, and Quality of Life in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury”

Men and women with spinal cord injury (SCI) will complete six months of exercise training, and a control group of individuals with SCI will also be recruited.  All participants will undergo testing (DXA, blood draws, and various surveys) at baseline and three and six months of the study to assess changes in bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover, body composition, and quality of life.

BMD will be obtained at the spine, hip, proximal tibia, distal femur, and whole body at baseline and after three and six months of training using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) via a commercially-available bone densitometer (GE Lunar Prodigy Advance).  Fat mass and fat-free mass of the whole body, upper body, and leg will be assessed using DXA.

Blood draws (10 mL) will be obtained at the same time of day at baseline and at three and six months.  Bone formation will be assessed via fasting serum osteocalcin (OC), and bone resorption will be assessed via fasting serum cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx).

In all subjects, the following surveys will be used to measure quality of life at baseline and after three and six months of training.

1. The Short Form-12 (SF-12)59 will be used to measure quality of life, with addition of two questions used for wheelchair users.15
2. On the same day, subjects will list the incidence and severity of 17 secondary complications15 using a 1 (absence of complication) to 5 (greatly bothersome) scale.  Complications include shoulder/back pain, leg spasms, etc.