RecruitingPhase 1Phase 2NCT06691165

Improving 24-hour Blood Pressure Stability in Spinal Cord Injury With Low Oxygen Therapy

Low Oxygen Therapy as a Cardiac Treatment for Improving 24-hour Blood Pressure Stability in Spinal Cord Injury

Sponsor

Glen Foster

Enrollment

10 participants

Start Date

Oct 23, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

This study examines the effects of low oxygen therapy (LOT) on the stability of 24-hour blood pressure in persons with chronic cervical spinal cord injury. This study will examine if brief episodes of breathing lower oxygen, termed low oxygen therapy (LOT), which has been shown to enhance autonomic nervous system activity, can improve blood pressure stability in individuals with spinal cord injury. The research team will assess 24-hour blood pressure, as well as cardiac, vascular, and autonomic function before and after a 4-day LOT treatment intervention. This study will advance current understanding of treatments to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk in people with spinal cord injuries.

Eligibility

Min Age: 19 YearsMax Age: 65 Years

Inclusion Criteria3

Are between the ages of 19-65
Living with a chronic cervical (at or above T1) spinal cord injury of at least one year
Are fluent in english

Exclusion Criteria8

High-cervical injuries requiring ventilator assistance to breathe will be excluded on account of the necessity of the facemask for the delivery of hypoxia
Unhealed fracture, contracture, or pressure sore that might interfere with participants' ability to complete the protocol
Additional concurrent neurological conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, stroke or brain injury)
Uncontrolled cardiovascular or pulmonary disease
Severe neuropathic pain
Severe recurrent autonomic dysreflexia
History of seizure disorders
Known pregnancy

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Interventions

DRUGLow oxygen therapy (LOT)

Participants will breathe variable concentrations of inspired oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. The concentrations will be adjusted on a breath-by-breath basis to maintain end-tidal targets. Each daily session of the intervention will consist of forty 1-minute intervals. Each 1-minute interval will consist of 40 seconds of hypercapnic hypoxia, increasing the partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide by +4 mmHg and decreasing the partial pressure of end-tidal oxygen to 45 mmHg, followed by 20 seconds in simulated room air to return to baseline carbon dioxide and oxygen levels.