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Contact Information:

Dr Joshua Kearney
j.a.kearney@bham.ac.uk


Miss Rocio Hidalgo Mas
MXH1264@student.bham.ac.uk


Dr Shin-Yi Chiou
s.chiou@bham.ac.uk


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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Promoting spinal cord injury recovery through arm cycling exercise
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Promoting spinal cord injury recovery through arm cycling exercise

Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Mixed

Sheffield Wakefield

Medical Conditions

Incomplete spinal cord injury

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


An injury to the spinal cord can disrupt the communication between the brain and the body, causing a loss of function below the injury, such as sensation and limb movement. In the early stages following the injury, the body is doing all it possibly can to repair these communication channels. Although early intensive rehabilitation improves recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI), the evidence regarding the effects of early-initiated, intensive rehabilitation and research exploring the potential mechanisms underpinning recovery post-SCI is inconclusive. The aim of this study is to find out whether a self-initiated arm cycling exercise training programme enhances motor recovery below the level of injury in individuals with a recent SCI.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

29 Feb 2024 31 Mar 2026

Publications

2025 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40840986/ (added 22/08/2025)

Participants are randomly allocated to two groups. One group (the experimental group) will do the arm cycling training in addition to the standard care. The other group (the control group) will continue with standard care.
The researchers will compare the muscle strength, trunk function, and health-related quality of life between the groups.
The arm cycling training programme will consist of cycling 3 x 30 minutes per week for weeks 1-2; 4 x 30 minutes per week for weeks 3-4; 5 x 30 minutes per week for weeks 5-8 in an upright seated posture.


Adults aged 18 years and above who have suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury at the neck or upper back within the past 6 months and are able to use the arm bike.

You can take part if:


Updated inclusion criteria as of 18/07/2025:
1. Aged 18 years and above
2. Post-injury < 6 months
3. Cervical or thoracic incomplete SCI
4. Able to sit without support for 30 seconds
5. Sufficient upper-limb function to voluntarily perform arm cycling movement on a stationary arm bike, with or without use of


You may not be able to take part if:


Current exclusion criteria as of 18/07/2025:1. Ongoing issues with shoulder instability or shoulder pain2. Contraindications to exercise in an upright posture (e.g., postural hypotension, unresolved pressure ulcer, uncontrolled cardiovascular conditions)3. Pregnancy4. Unable to understand explanation of the study and/or instructions of the intervention

Previous exclusion criteria:1. Have ongoing issues with shoulder instability or shoulder pain2. Are unable to use the bike due to lack of muscle activity to activate the bike (e.g., AIS B or C at cervical level). This will assess case-by-case and discussion with the medical care team will be in place prior to study participation.3. Have contraindications to exercise in an upright posture (e.g., postural hypotension, ulcers).4. Are pregnant.5. Are not able to understand what is involved in the study or who cannot understand written or verbal English will not be recruited given the scale of the study being a pilot study and the exercise is self-initiated.


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
    Northern General Hospital Herries Road
    Sheffield
    S5 7AU
  • Pinderfields General Hospital
    Aberford Road
    Wakefield
    WF1 4DG

Patients with spinal cord injury may improve the strength of their arms and trunk after doing the arm-cycling exercise training. Participants might experience muscle pain after or during the arm cycling exercise, this will be monitored by the therapist-researcher.

Dr Joshua Kearney
j.a.kearney@bham.ac.uk


Dr Shin-Yi Chiou
s.chiou@bham.ac.uk


Miss Rocio Hidalgo Mas
MXH1264@student.bham.ac.uk



The study is sponsored by University of Birmingham and funded by International Spinal Research Trust; Academy of Medical Sciences.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN17247972

Or CPMS: 52685

Last updated 30 December 2025

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