20 Year Anniversary 1987--2007

 The Reha FES Outdoor Tricycle arrived MARCH 2007:

SCITCS has donated the $23,000 Tricycle to the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta under lead researcher Richard Stein Ph.D of the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Group.

The Tricycle was developed at the University of Glasgow Scotland by Ken Hunt Ph.D engineer and manufactured by Hasomed of Germany.

To view a video of the Tricycle being used by a person with a spinal cord injury to cycle around Bellahoustan Park in Glasgow see FUTURE

EXCITING FIRST TIME EVENT IN EDMONTON HAS BEEN DELAYED

Monopoly Mania details and entry form

The SCITCS FES Research Laboratory. Named 2006 to participate in research projects call 780 492-8480

The Board of Directors of SCITCS is immensely proud of the SCITCS FES Research Laboratory, which was named  June 20th        2006 to recognize SCITCS continued support for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) research over a period of almost 20 years 1987-2006.The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry named the "SCITCS FES Research Laboratory" in recognition of the provision of two SpectraSTIM 4M four channel muscle stimulators, two Ergys Clinical Rehabilitation Systems and Accessories, one Ergys Data Management Station www.musclepower.com, Concept ll rower with the addition of adaptations and FES www.fesrowing.org and an FES Arm Cranking Trainer--The first of its kind in North America developed at the University of Glasgow fesnet.eng.gla.ac.uk/CRE/ manufactured by Hasomed of Germany www.hasomed.de NOTE: See Research to learn more about the FES research being conducted in the SCITCS FES Research Laboratory.

SCITCS donated $26,420 to the SCITCS FES Clinic in the year 2006

SCITCS donated $157,743 to the SCITCS FES Research Facility in the year 2006

The University of Alberta has received a total of $184,163 for the year 2006

DARING TO LIVE: Personal Stories of Courage The  book was released with great results. It made it to the Edmonton Top 10 list for 6 weeks. To purchase $19.99. Call 780 436-5606 Check out the book and the reviews here.

Research:

Vivian K. Mushawhar, PhD Researcher in Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation Engineering

Download Current Research Article from SCITCS News

READ HOW A YOUNG MAN WITH GREAT DETERMINATION AND THE HELP OF RESEARCHERS AT THE CENTRE FOR NEUROSCIENCE LEARNED TO STAND AND WALK

Scott Oster, a 26 year old, who had a spinal cord injury at the T4/T5 level in April 2001, used the FES equipment in the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society (SCITCS) Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Exercise Clinic located in The Steadward Centre at the University of Alberta to rebuild his legs. This included the FES rowing machine developed by Drs. Wheeler and Andrews at The Steadward Centre and a wheelchair propelled by FES attached to his legs, which was developed by Kelly James and Dr. Stein in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience group at the University of Alberta. However, his real desire was to walk again and for that purpose Dr. Stein and Robert Rolf worked with Frank Hayday of Karl Hager Limb and Brace to combine FES with a new kind of brace, called a stance-controlled knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO), developed by Gary Horton in Little Rock, Arkansas. 

See video of Braces and Electrodes

The second video clip shows Scott Oster standing and walking with the system in April 2005. To stand two buttons on the walker are pushed together and that straightens the leg and locks the brace as he stands up. To advance the left leg the left button is pushed which unlocks the brace and stimulates flexor muscles in the leg. To advance the right leg, the right button is pushed. When no buttons are pushed, the braces are locked to help support his weight without stimulation. Scott has used the system for nearly two years on a daily basis at home near Drumheller, Alberta where he is a grain farmer. A high point was when he could walk to the altar and stand with his sister as part of the bridal party when his sister got married.

See video of Scott Standing and Walking

*takes approx 33 minutes to download using dial-up. 2 minutes with hi-speed

SEE THE FUTURE
 

Approximately 2 million people worldwide live with a spinal cord injury.  In addition to the mobility limitations, there is an insidious side effect of not having full use of your body--- the inability to work your cardiovascular system.  The resulting decline in physical fitness contributes to a loss of nearly 10 years of life expectancy for this population.” (1) 

Since 1987 SCITCS has sought to improve the health and independence of people with spinal cord injuries by promoting and financially supporting functional electrical stimulation (FES) research.  FES uses direct electrical stimulation of the muscles to bypass the spinal cord and enable the use of one’s limbs.  1990 SCITCS donated the first ERGYS I Rehabilitation System in Western Canada.

June 20^th, 2006.  The Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry named the SCITCS FES Research Facility in recognition of the provision of two SpectraSTIM 4M 4 channel muscle stimulators, two ERGYS Clinical Rehabilitation Systems and Accessories, one ERGYS Data Management Station www.musclepower.com, Concept II rower with the addition of the adaptations and FES www.fesrowing.org, and an Arm Cranking Trainer – The first of its kind in North America fesnet.eng.gla.ac.uk/CRE/ manufactured by Hasomed of Germany www.hasomed.de

December 2006. SCITCS donated a Magstim $23,900 to the SCITCS FES Research Facility. It uses magnetic stimulation enabling the researchers to assess protect and improve the function of the nervous system in various clinical and research situations. It works by inducing a small transient electrical current in human tissue. This is a non-invasive process and stimulation is is achieved by holding a stimulating coil close to the body. www.magstim.com

The following research projects will be conducted in the SCITCS FES Research Facility (SFRF) using the FES equipment provided by SCITCS to include an additional donation of $80,123.56 to research the development of deep pressure sore formation.  In addition the Board of Directors of SCITCS has approved partial financial support towards the provision of a physiotherapist to assist clients and researchers.

Pressure Ulcers

RESEARCHERS: Leandro Solis and Selina Gyawali

Problem:

Any individual with compromised mobility and/or sensation can be affected by pressure ulcers.  People with spinal cord injury are among those most at risk, with incidence rates ranging from 29% to 80%.

• The cost to treat a single pressure ulcer can range from $15,800 to $72,680 USD depending on the severity of the ulcer.  In North America these costs add up to $2.2 to $3.6 billion USD every year.  Severe ulcers can lead to the death of the individual
• Current detection techniques are based on skin inspections, which are ineffective in detecting pressure ulcers developing in the deep tissue layers.  Deep ulcers can go undetected for a long time, and by the time they exhibit any skin changes the damage is irreversible.
• Current prevention techniques include the use of wheelchair cushions or bed mattresses made of special materials.  While helpful, these techniques provide only static pressure relief.  Frequent repositioning is the ideal prevention technique, but this is limited by each individual’s ability to do so on his/her own, or the availability of a second person to assist.  To date no prevention technique has consistently lowered the incidence rates over the years

Goals

• Identify a set of hematochemical markers that can act as indicators of the early stages of deep pressure ulcer development.
• Develop a system that elicits periodic contractions of the gluteus muscles, generating periodic pressure relief and allowing restoration of blood flow to the deep tissue, effectively preventing the onset of deep ulcers.

Methods

• Blood samples will be analyzed periodically to monitor changes in hematochemical markers most susceptible to deep tissue injury.
• Intermittent electrical stimulation will be applied periodically through skin electrodes to the gluteus muscles to elicit muscle contractions.
• The stimulation paradigm will be optimized for each individual by performing deep tissue oxygenation measurements with MRI, seating interface pressure measurements, and the development of a Finite Element computer model of the gluteus muscles to predict the levels of internal pressure.

Impact of Project

• Current detection techniques are based only on skin inspections that are ineffective for the detection of deep ulcers. A technique that can reliably detect the earliest stages of deep pressure ulcer formation will provide physicians with adequate time to treat before it fully develops.
• The development of a system capable of preventing deep ulcers in people with reduced mobility will spare them the long and costly treatments required to heal ulcers.  This will greatly reduce the negative impact ulcers have on their quality of life.

Contact: Leandro Solis (MSc Student)

Participants are required to have a complete spinal cord injury for deep pressure ulcer research.

Call: 492-8480 or email leandro@ualberta.ca to enquire as to your eligibility. 

Role of Interlimb Reflexes in Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

RESEARCHERS: Jason Dyck and Andrew Ganton

Many forms of human locomotion (running, walking and swimming) involve rhythmic coordination between the upper and lower limbs. This observation implies some type of interconnection between the neural circuitry controlling arm and leg movements.  Can this connection be exploited to promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI)?

Goals:

• Examine the efficacy of combined arm/leg functional electrical stimulations (FES) training in promoting limb recovery after SCI.
• Determine whether arms and legs need to be activated in a synchronous or asynchronous pattern for recovery to occur.
• Examine whether combined arm/leg FES training is more effective than either arm or leg FES training alone.
• Gain a better understanding of the interconnections the between neural circuitry controlling arm and leg movements after SCI.

Methods:

• Low levels of electrical current will be applied to the surface of various muscles in order to generate FES driven exercise on either a FES rowing machine (synchronous activation) or a FES arm/leg ergometer (asynchronous activation)
• Reflexes will be tested to examine changes in neural connectivity between limbs
• Kinetic and kinematic data will be used to assess functional outcomes, such as overground and treadmill locomotion.

Expected Outcome:

• Sensory input is critical in maintaining neural circuitry that generates movement.  Since the region of the spinal cord controlling a given limb receives sensory input from all four limbs, replicating this sensory input during exercise with combined arm/leg FES training should produce enhanced functional recovery.

Restoration of Limb Function After Spinal Cord Injury Using Functional Electrical Stimulation Induced Plasticity

RESEARCHERS: Jason Dyck jd4@ulberta.ca and Andrew Ganton

The direct costs of spinal cord injury (SCI) to the Canadian health care system are estimated at 450 million dollars annually. One of the greatest contributors to this cost stems from a lack of physical activity following injury.  Not only does this inactivity breed additional medical problems, but the resulting loss of sensory input from the limbs further exaggerates movement deficits resulting from the injury itself.  Sensory information from the arms and legs is critical for shaping the activity patterns on the spinal networks responsible for controlling limb movements.

Goals:

• Develop functional electrical stimulation (FES) training protocols to regulate sensory input to the spinal cord in order to improve arm and leg function
• Gain a better understanding of the role sensory input and reflexes play in controlling limb movements after SCI

Methods:

• Low levels of electrical current will be applied to the surface of various muscles in order to generate FES-driven exercise on either a leg or arm ergometer.
• Reflexes will be tested to examine changes in neural connectivity
• Kinetic and kinematic data will be used to assess functional outcomes

Expected Outcome:

• We anticipate that regulating sensory input to the spinal cord will preserve and/or reorganize neural connections responsible for limb movement. This ‘plasticity’ will utilize the remaining neural tissue after injury to generate purposeful movements.

For additional information and to participate in the Research contact 780 492-8480

SCITCS: E-mail: lamjamgra@shaw.ca  780 435-5933

Reference (1) Judy Geer Concept II Update Spring 2006

CONTACT: lamjamgra@shaw.ca
780 435-5933