Panacea Index Logo

Command Palette

Search for a command to run...

Daily acute intermittent hypoxia combined with walking practice enhances walking performance but not intralimb motor coordination in persons with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.

Experimental neurology
June 1, 2021
Andrew Q Tan et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.Human StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether daily acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) combined with walking practice improves overground walking performance and intralimb motor coordination in individuals with chronic, incomplete spinal cord injuries.

Results Summary

Participants showed improved walking speed and endurance after daily AIH + walking practice, with benefits persisting for weeks. The greatest improvements occurred in those using bilateral walking aids, but no significant changes in intralimb coordination were observed.

Population

11 individuals with chronic (>1 year), incomplete spinal cord injuries.

Effective Dosage

15 episodes of 10.0% O₂, 90 seconds each, daily for 5 consecutive days.

Duration

5 consecutive days.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
daily bouts of breathing low oxygen (acute intermittent hypoxia, AIH) prior to locomotor training
increase
overground walking speed and endurance
humans with SCI
persistent (weeks)
elicited persistent (weeks) improvement
#1
daily AIH combined with walking practice (AIH + WALK)
increase
overground walking performance
persons with chronic, incomplete SCI
-
improved
#2
daily AIH combined with walking practice (AIH + WALK)
increase
intralimb motor coordination
persons with chronic, incomplete SCI
-
improved
#3
daily AIH + WALK
increase
overground walking performance (speed and endurance)
participants
-
improved
#4
SHAM+WALK
no change
overground walking performance (speed and endurance)
participants
-
not
#5
daily AIH + WALK
decrease
10MWT time
participants
-
decreased
#6
daily AIH + WALK
increase
6MWT distance
participants
-
increased
#7
daily AIH + WALK
increase
walking speed and endurance
-
persisted for weeks after treatment
improved
#8
daily AIH + WALK
increase
speed
participants who used bilateral walking aids
-
Greatest improvements
#9
daily AIH + WALK
no change
EV and ACC
-
-
No change
#10
Abstract

UNLABELLED: Persons living with incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCI) often struggle to regain independent walking due to deficits in walking mechanics. They often dedicate many weeks of gait training before benefits to emerge, with additional training needed for benefits to persist. Recent studies in humans with SCI found that daily bouts of breathing low oxygen (acute intermittent hypoxia, AIH) prior to locomotor training elicited persistent (weeks) improvement in overground walking speed and endurance. AIH-induced improvements in overground walking may result from changes in control strategies that also enhance intralimb coordination; however, this possibility remains untested. Here, we examined the extent to which daily AIH combined with walking practice (AIH + WALK) improved overground walking performance and intralimb motor coordination in persons with chronic, incomplete SCI. METHODS: We recruited 11 persons with chronic (> 1 year), incomplete SCI to participate in a randomized, double-blind, balanced, crossover study. Participants first received either daily (5 consecutive days) AIH (15, 90-s episodes of 10.0% O RESULTS: Participants improved overground walking performance (speed and endurance) after daily AIH + WALK, but not SHAM+WALK. Following daily AIH + WALK, participants decreased their 10MWT time at T CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with prior studies, daily AIH + WALK triggered improvements in walking speed and endurance that persisted for weeks after treatment. Greatest improvements in speed occurred in participants who used bilateral walking aids. No change in EV and ACC may suggest that intralimb motor coordination was not a significant gait training priority during daily AIH + WALK.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAgedChronic DiseaseCombined Modality TherapyCross-Over StudiesDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansHypoxiaMaleMiddle AgedPsychomotor PerformanceRecovery of FunctionSpinal Cord InjuriesTime FactorsWalkingYoung Adult
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations28
Citations/Year7.0
Relative Citation Ratio3.61
NIH Percentile88.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.87
Normalized Score0.72
Related Supplements
Daily acute intermittent hypoxia combined with walking pract... | Panacea Index