Purpose/About study 

The purpose of this Registry is to enable the research team at HERL to facilitate assistive technology related research and development by identifying potential research participants for future research studies. 

Participation 

You will be asked to complete questionnaires that ask for your contact & demographic information, and your use of assistive technology. As a member of the HERL Registry, we will inform you of current and future research studies that you may be eligible for. The Registry is an informational resource and notification of a research study does not obligate you to participate.

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In spinal cord injury, or SCI, nerves that communicate between the brain and body are damaged.  In addition to weakness and numbness, other functions are often impacted, including the digestive track.  For people living with SCI, bowel control and dysfunction are among their biggest perceived challenges.  Despite numerous medications and time-consuming routines, constipation and incontinence (accidents) are still common.  More research and innovative tools are needed.  Researchers with the MetroHealth System and Case Western University in Cleveland recently received funding from the Department of Defense for 2 new studies to help understand this more.  The goal of these studies is to evaluate the short-term effect of genital nerve stimulation on the reflexes used to defecate and the practicality of using genital nerve stimulation daily at home to test the long-term effects.

In the 1st study, 52 people with SCI from trauma (such as car crashes, falls, gunshot wounds, etc.) will be enrolled.  During a single study visit (about 6 hours), each participant will be evaluated using physical exams, interviews, and a test called anorectal manometry.  Anorectal manometry is a test that is kind of similar to the urodynamics test for the bladder.  During anorectal manometry a catheter is placed a short distance into the rectum and measures the pressures, movements, reflexes, and sensations.  This is done first without any stimulation, then the response to low level (sham) and high level (treatment) genital nerve stimulation is tested.  Reimbursement of travel expenses is available as well as an overnight stay at our wheelchair accessible Zubizarreta House if desired.  The results from this 1st study will help us understand how brief periods of surface stimulation of the genital nerve changes bowel reflex activity and it will help us predict who will be a responder versus a non-responder.

In the 2nd study, 12 people who responded well to genital nerve stimulation in the 1st study will be enrolled.  All participants will maintain their usual bowel routine and nutritional habits while completing a daily diary of their bowel movements.  Each participant will be re-evaluated using physical exams, interviews, and anorectal manometry evaluations, and will then be randomly assigned to the treatment stimulation group or the sham stimulation group.  All participants will be trained to perform genital nerve stimulation at home, every day for 6-8 hours over four weeks.  The sham group will have devices programmed to deliver low level stimulation, whereas the treatment group will receive high level stimulation.  After four weeks, both groups will be reevaluated.  Each person will not do any stimulation for another two weeks before being re-evaluated for a final time.  Reimbursement of travel expenses is available as well as overnight stays at our wheelchair accessible Zubizarreta House for each of the 3 visits.  The results from the 2nd study will help us understand if genital nerve stimulation is a feasible option to improve bowel dysfunction, bowel incontinence, and quality of life in persons with SCI.

If you would like to know more information about this study contact Anvi Kshirsagar at akshirsagar@metrohealth.org or 216-957-3558 or Dr. Kim Anderson at kxa304@case.edu.  

Purpose/About study 

To improve the mobile app developed to support a military person with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and their caregivers. The app is designed as dual-target intervention for both individuals with SCI and their caregivers. We need to understand your needs to best support you. 

Participation

▪ Participate in 3 to 6 group discussions over Zoom 

▪ Each group discussion is 60-90 minutes long.   

▪ Try out a mobile app for 6 months and give your opinion. ▪ Prior experience with Zoom not required 

▪ Compensation is provided.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh's Inclusive Mobility Research Lab are looking for study participants (18+ years of age) who use either a manual or powered wheelchair as their primary means of mobility.

For now, they are primarily focused on recruiting powered wheelchair users and may expand to manual wheelchair users in the summer time.

Participants are compensated for their time across several sessions. Interested individuals should contact Claire Nichols by phone, 412-545-3759, or by email, wcmobility@groups.pitt.edu.