The Effects of Eccentric Compared to Standard Strength Training in Primary Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

NCT06905470 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 2023-21SNCTP000006132
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of eccentric arm-crank (KREHA) training compared to standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training in individuals undergoing primary spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation. The main questions this trail aims to answer are:

• what are the effects of the training on upper body strength, aerobic performance, muscle volume, functional independence, and health-related quality of life?
• is the KREHA training feasible to implement into the rehabilitation routine? Participants will:
• perform either 20 KREHA sessions or 20 STAN sessions within 12 weeks
• perform a test battery to collect data on training effects before (pretest) and after (posttest) the study intervention

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury

Keywords

eccentric training; strength training; upper body; aerobic performance; muscle volume

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Upper body strength

  Change in upper body strength will be measured by a one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press (in kg). The maximum amount of weight that can be pushed upwards for one repetition, while lying in a supine position on a weight training bench.

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Upper body strength

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

• Handgrip strength

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

• Aerobic performance

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

• Muscle volume

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

• Arm circumference

  < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.

Other Outcomes (3)

• Feasibility of the KREHA training (total number of training sessions)

  Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12

• Feasibility of the KREHA training progression (number of sessions adapted)

  Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12

• Feasibility of the KREHA training progression (power adaptation)

  Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12

Study Arms (2)

Eccentric arm-crank (KREHA) training

EXPERIMENTAL

The eccentric training intervention consists of 20 training sessions performed on a symmetric arm-crank (Krafttraining mittels exzentrischer Handkurbel, KREHA) device. The training sessions have a duration of approximately 30 min and will be completed within twelve weeks, with a maximum of three sessions per week.

Procedure: Eccentric (KREHA) training

Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The standard strength training intervention consists of a total of 20 training sessions at the gym of the study center, performed following clinical routine procedures. The training sessions have a duration of approximately 60 min and will be completed within twelve weeks, with around three sessions per week.

Procedure: Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training

Interventions

Eccentric (KREHA) training PROCEDURE

20 eccentric resistance training sessions will be performed on a symmetric arm-crank ergometer in a supine position.

Eccentric arm-crank (KREHA) training

Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training PROCEDURE

The regular strength training intervention consists of a total of 20 training sessions at the gym of the study center, performed following clinical routine procedures.

Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• years or older.
• informed consent as confirmed per signature.
• traumatic or disease-related SCI.
• participating in the routine strength training program during primary SCI rehabilitation at the study center (generally this is initiated around one month after SCI onset).
• wheelchair dependency during activities of daily living, defined by a score of 0-2 in the SCIM subsection regarding "Mobility in the house".
• passed sports medical assessment and having sufficient biceps/triceps function to perform arm-crank training, as determined by an experienced sports medicine physician

You may not qualify if:

• inflammatory or neurodegenerative diseases (including multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome).
• comorbidities or other health issues that may interfere with study participation, inability or contraindications to undergo the investigated intervention.
• MRI contraindications (magnetic metal parts or electronic implants such as pacemakers in the body).
• pregnancy (anamnestic).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil: lead

Study Sites (1)

Swiss Paraplegic Centre

Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, 6207, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds and Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Anneke Hertig-Godeschalk, PhD

CONTACT

+414 9396603; anneke.hertig@paraplegie.ch

Fabian Ammann, MSc

CONTACT

+41419396624; fabian.ammann@paraplegie.ch

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: NETWORK
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Matched-pair randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 5, 2025
• First Posted: April 1, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2028
• Last Updated: December 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CH (1)