RecruitingPhase 2

Locomotor Training With Testosterone to Promote Bone and Muscle Health After Spinal Cord Injury

United States21 participantsStarted 2021-01-31

Plain-language summary

This pilot study will determine the feasibility of implementing a combinatory rehabilitation strategy involving testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with locomotor training (LT; walking on a treadmill with assistance and overground walking) in men with testosterone deficiency and walking dysfunction after incomplete or complete spinal cord injury. The investigators hypothesize that LT+TRT treatment will improve muscle size and bone mineral density in men with low T and ambulatory dysfunction after incomplete or complete SCI, along with muscle fundtion and walking recovery in men with T low and ambulatory dysfunction ater incomplete SCI.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

MALE

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: * Men \>18 years of age * Diagnosis of an incomplete SCI involving spinal segments L1 or above or a clinically complete SCI involving spinal segments T2-L1, with upper motor neuron injury signs (i.e., spasticity, hypertonicity) for \>60-days * Low serum total testosterone (\<300 ng/dL), bioavailable testosterone (\<110 ng/dL), or free testosterone (\<46 pg/mL or \<4.6 ng/dL) * Presence of one or more sign or symptom that may be related to low testosterone, including: loss of body hair or reduced shaving, very small testes (\<6 mL), reduced sexual desire (libido) and activity, decreased spontaneous erections (e.g., morning erections) or erectile dysfunction, breast discomfort or gynecomastia, height loss, low-trauma fracture, or low BMD, hot flushes or sweats, decreased energy, motivation, initiative, or self-confidence, fatigue or irritability, feeling sad or blue, having a depressed mood, or having a persistent low-grade depressive disorder, poor concentration or memory, sleep disturbances or increased sleepiness, mild unexplained anemia (normochromic or normocytic), reduced muscle bulk, strength, or physical performance, Increased body fat or body mass index, any other sign or symptom commonly associated with low testosterone * Locomotor dysfunction, definted as self-selected walking pace ≤1.0 m/s on a 10mWT, either with or without gait devices or braces and with or without assistance, or as self-selected walking pace \>1.0 m/s with reliance on a gait d…

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

change in thigh muscle cross-sectional area

Timeframe: baseline, 3 months, 6 months

change in 6 min walk test (6MWT)

Timeframe: baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months

change in distal femur bone mineral density

Timeframe: baseline, 3 months, 6 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04460872

SponsorNorth Florida Foundation for Research and Education

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-01-30

Contact for this trial

Joshua F Yarrow, PhD

(352) 548-6477 joshua.yarrow@va.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Spinal Cord Injury trials