Energy Costs of Spasticity in Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Investigation
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00572845 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Unable to recruit enough participants.)
First Posted : December 13, 2007
Last Update Posted : February 23, 2016
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Basal Energy Expenditure Spasticity | Other: Weaning of Antispasticity Medication | Not Applicable |
Obesity is at epidemic proportions in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI), and is likely the mediator of the metabolic syndrome in this special population. Recent literature reviews have suggested that obesity is present in > 67% of persons with SCI. Additionally, recent studies have demonstrated the causal relationship between adipose tissue accumulation and vascular inflammation, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance / glucose intolerance, hypertension and thromboemboli.
Obesity in SCI occurs because of acute and ongoing positive energy balance, i.e., greater caloric intake than energy expenditure. Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) in SCI is reduced primarily because of muscular atrophy and diminished muscular contraction; pharmacological treatment of spasticity possibly reduces energy expenditure (EE) even further, but has not been evaluated to date. TDEE is comprised of three components: Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE), Thermic Effect of Activity (TEA) and Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). Of the three, BEE contributes the greatest amount (65-75% TDEE) and is the most sensitive to changes in spasticity.
Dampening spasticity has been reported to increase weight gain and necessitate reduced caloric intake in a child with spastic quadriplegia. Similarly, athetosis in patients with cerebral palsy increased resting metabolic rate (RMR) as compared to control subjects with no athetotic movements. Although several studies have reported energy requirements for persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and even SCI, however, none have attempted to measure the metabolic effect of spasticity.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 20 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Official Title: | Energy Costs of Spasticity in Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Investigation |
Study Start Date : | January 2008 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | July 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | July 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1
Weaning of Spasticity Medication over a three day period while measuring Modified Ashworth Scale and Penn Spasm Frequency Score. Then titration of medication back to previous dose over a three day period.
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Other: Weaning of Antispasticity Medication
Weaning of antispasticity medication over a three day period and then titration back to previous dose over a three day period. |
- Increase in Basal Energy Expenditure [ Time Frame: 7 days ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- C1-T10 SCI at least 1 year post injury
- Spasticity in the legs
- Veteran
Exclusion Criteria:
- Recent increase in spasticity
- Botox within 6 months
- Phenol within 2 years
- Prior surgery for spasticity

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00572845
United States, Virginia | |
McGuire VA Medical Center | |
Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23249 |
Principal Investigator: | David R Gater, MD, PhD | McGuire VA Medical Center | |
Study Chair: | David X Cifu, MD | VCU Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
Responsible Party: | Virginia Commonwealth University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00572845 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
HM11352 |
First Posted: | December 13, 2007 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 23, 2016 |
Last Verified: | February 2016 |
Basal Energy Expenditure Spasticity Modified Ashworth Scale Penn Spasm Frequency Score |
Muscle Spasticity Spinal Cord Injuries Spinal Cord Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Trauma, Nervous System |
Wounds and Injuries Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Muscle Hypertonia Neuromuscular Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations |