An interventional study of Eccentric (KREHA) training and Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training in Spinal Cord Injury, sponsored by Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Switzerland. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-28.
Sponsored by Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care
The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the effects of eccentric arm-crank (KREHA) training compared to standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training in individuals undergoing primary spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation.
The main questions this trail aims to answer are:
Participants will:
Exclusion Criteria:
The eccentric training intervention consists of 20 training sessions performed on a symmetric arm-crank (Krafttraining mittels exzentrischer Handkurbel, KREHA) device. The training sessions have a duration of approximately 30 min and will be completed within twelve weeks, with a maximum of three sessions per week.
Procedure: Eccentric (KREHA) training
The standard strength training intervention consists of a total of 20 training sessions at the gym of the study center, performed following clinical routine procedures. The training sessions have a duration of approximately 60 min and will be completed within twelve weeks, with around three sessions per week.
Procedure: Standard clinical routine strength (STAN) training
20 eccentric resistance training sessions will be performed on a symmetric arm-crank ergometer in a supine position.
The regular strength training intervention consists of a total of 20 training sessions at the gym of the study center, performed following clinical routine procedures.
Upper body strength
Change in upper body strength will be measured by a one-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press (in kg). The maximum amount of weight that can be pushed upwards for one repetition, while lying in a supine position on a weight training bench.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Upper body strength
Change in upper body strength measured by a 1RM bench pull (in kg). The maximum amount of weight that can be pulled upwards for one repetition, while lying in a prone position on a weight training bench.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Handgrip strength
Change in maximum strength of three handgrip measurements (in kg) of both hands using a Jamar Handgrip Dynamometer.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Aerobic performance
Change in cardiopulmonary adaptations, measured by aerobic performance in an exercise test on a regular arm-crank ergometer. A ramp protocol starting at 20 Watt followed by 1 Watt / 6 sec increments to failure will be used. The following parameters will be evaluated during this aerobic endurance test: power at failure at the end of the test (in Watt), peak oxygen uptake during the test (in ml/kg/min), maximal heart rate (bpm)
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Muscle volume
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of relevant upper body muscles of the dominant upper arm and shoulder will be used to measure change in muscle volume.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Arm circumference
Change in arm circumference of the right and left lower and upper arm (in cm), will be used to estimate muscle volume.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Functioning during activities of daily living
Change in functioning during activities of daily living will be assessed by the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) as extracted from clinical records. The SCIM total score ranges from 0-100, with higher scores indicating higher levels of functional independence.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Health-related quality of life
Change in health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Weighted physical and mental component scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating better physical or mental health.
Time frame: < 1 week pre and 12 weeks post intervention start.
Feasibility of the KREHA training (total number of training sessions)
Successful implementation of the KREHA training in the clinical routine, by assessing whether the 20 KREHA sessions are completed within 12 weeks.
Time frame: Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12
Feasibility of the KREHA training progression (number of sessions adapted)
Feasibility of the KREHA training progression, by assessing how many training sessions needed to be adapted.
Time frame: Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12
Feasibility of the KREHA training progression (power adaptation)
Feasibility of the KREHA training progression, by assessing how much the target power (in Watts) of a training session needed to be adapted compared to the initially planned progression.
Time frame: Throughout the intervention phase, week 0-12
Plan to share: No
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Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil