Neuroplasticity After Spinal Cord Injury

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inclusion criteria for individuals with SCI:
• Male and females between ages 18-85 years
• SCI (≥1 month after injury)
• Cervical, thoracic or lumbar injury above L2 (tetraplegia)Intact (level 2) orimpaired (level 1) but not absent (level 0) lower motor neuron innervations indermatomes C6, C7 and C8 during light touch and pin prick stimulus using theAmerican Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) sensory scores (12)
• The ability to produce a visible precision grip force with both hands
• Individuals who have the ability to pick up a small object (large paperclip) froma table independently
• Ability to perform 30° or more of elbow flexion and extension.
• The ability to perform a visible contraction with dorsiflexor and hip flexormuscles
• The ability to ambulate a few steps with or without an assistive device Inclusion criteria for healthy controls:
• Male and females between ages 18-85 years
• Right handed
• Able to complete precision grips with both hands
• Able to complete full elbow flexion-extension with both arms.
• Able to walk and complete lower-limb tests with both legs.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria for individuals with SCI and Healthy Controls:
• Uncontrolled medical problems including pulmonary, cardiovascular or orthopedicdisease
• Any debilitating disease prior to the SCI that caused exercise intolerance
• Premorbid, ongoing major depression or psychosis, altered cognitive status
• History of head injury or stroke
• Pacemaker
• Metal plate in skull
• History of seizures
• Receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower theseizure threshold such as antipsychotic drugs (chlorpromazine, clozapine) ortricyclic antidepressants
• Pregnant females
• Ongoing cord compression or a syrinx in the spinal cord or who suffer from aspinal cord disease such as spinal stenosis, spina bifida or herniated cervicaldisk.