CompletedNot Applicable

Plasticity of Grey and White Matter in Response to Motor Skill Training in Healthy Individuals and Those With Spinal Cord Injury

Switzerland51 participantsStarted 2014-02

Plain-language summary

We aim to investigate the effect of motor skill training of the upper and lower limbs on the function and structure of the CNS as measured by neuroimaging parameters sensitive to changes in tissue volume and density and the properties of myelin.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients: * Injury to the spinal cord which leads to any neurological deficits * able to provide Informed consent Controls: \- able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * MRI incompatible * Neurologic or physiatric disorders

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

MRI parameters: tensor based morphometry, longitudinal relaxation rate, magnetisation transfer and diffusion index changes in the cervical and cranial corticospinal tract, basal ganglia, motor, premotor and parietal cortex.

Timeframe: MRI scans at weekly intervals (day 0, 7, 14, 28 and 84 after commencement of training)

Raw performance data in the upper and lower limb training task, recorded at each training session.

Timeframe: Training sessions 4x1hour per week for 4 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02148887

SponsorUniversity of Zurich

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2018-05

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Investigating Spinal Atrophy in Patients With Spinal Injury trials