Functional recovery
This trial is a critical component of the broader Project Spark, a collaborative effort involving CatWalk and SpinalCure.
In August 2024, the trial is taking a significant leap forward by establishing a site at Rope Neuro Rehabilitation in Auckland. This expansion is not just a step forward, but a leap towards accelerating participant recruitment and enabling faster progress in the groundbreaking research. This study will advance clinical trial capability and reach and has the potential to lead to immediate treatments.
Rope Neuro Rehabilitation’s state-of-the-art facilities and expert team allow the Get a Grip trial to reach a broader pool of candidates, ensuring that more individuals benefit from the innovative interventions designed to improve their quality of life. This study’s importance and potential impact are immense, offering new hope and opportunities for those affected by SCI.
The need for Get a Grip
Tetraplegia severely impairs movement and sensation in the arms, hands, legs, and respiratory muscles. For individuals with tetraplegia, restoring hand and arm function is the highest priority, closely followed by improving breathing and coughing. Traditional rehabilitation methods often fail to address these needs, making innovative approaches essential.
Objectives
Get a Grip aims to validate hand grip strength as a reliable biomarker (biological measurement) for overall health and longevity. Hand grip strength is a simple yet powerful indicator of muscle function, associated with numerous health outcomes, including cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and mortality risk. The study’s primary goal is to establish grip strength as an easily measurable biomarker in clinical settings, aiding in the early detection of various health issues.
The trial involves electrical spinal cord stimulation and exercise therapy targeting upper limb and respiratory function. Participants undergo a 30-minute exercise program combined with spinal stimulation three times a week for six weeks. This non-invasive approach uses transcutaneous spinal cord neuro-stimulation (TSS) to enhance spinal cord excitability, promoting muscle function and respiratory improvement.
The study assesses participants’ upper limb dexterity, strength, and respiratory muscle function before and after the intervention. During exercise training, it also evaluates muscle reflexes using gel electrodes placed on the arm, back, and shoulders.
Implications
Early results from the Get a Grip trial have shown promising associations between low grip strength and higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, cognitive decline, and increased mortality rates. These findings suggest that grip strength could be a quick, non-invasive screening tool in routine health check-ups, potentially revolutionising preventive healthcare.
Healthcare providers can initiate early interventions by identifying individuals at higher risk of specific health conditions through simple grip strength tests. This proactive approach could lead to better health outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and improved quality of life for many individuals.
The electric field stimulation in the study also has learning implications for our regeneration research. New Zealand’s participation in the study means closer collaboration between the clinicians and our Auckland researchers is possible.
Get a Grip is a pivotal Project Spark effort dedicated to improving hand and respiratory function in SCI patients. By leveraging advanced technologies and personalised rehabilitation approaches, the study aims to restore independence and enhance the quality of life for those affected by spinal cord injuries. The early findings and potential implications of this research hold the promise of transforming preventive healthcare and offering new hope to individuals with chronic tetraplegia. As the trial progresses, the insights gained could lead to significant advancements in early detection, intervention, and management of various health issues, ultimately improving many health outcomes and quality of life.