Table 1:
Summary of studies examining effects of low oxygen therapy in humans with spinal cord injury. Abbreviations: BL: baseline; AIH: acute intermittent hypoxia: Nx: normoxia: EMG: electromyography: BWST: body weight supported treadmill training: s: second: w: week; L: liter, min: minute: N/m: newton/meter
| Author | AIH Duration | Functional Outcome | Key Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tester et al. (2014) [12] | 10 days | Respiratory Function | 29% increase in minute ventilation (L/min) for 30 minutes following AIH + mild hypercapnia. |
| Hayes et al. (2014) [13] | 1 day and 5 days/w for 1w | Overground Walking | 15% increase in walking speed (m/s), 36% increase in walking endurance (m) after 5 days AIH + overground walking training. |
| Trumbower et al. (2012) [10] | 1 day | Ankle Strength | 82% increase in maximum ankle plantar flexion torque (N/m) 30 min after AIH. 43% increase in peak EMG activity. |
| Navarrete-Opazo et al. (2017) [31] | 5 days/w for 1w Followed by 3 days/w, 3w | Overground Walking | 82% greater increase in walking speed (m/s) and 86% greater endurance (m) after 5 days AIH + BWST relative to Nx +BWST. Additional exposures significantly prolonged gains up to 3 weeks. |
| Navarrete-Opazo et al. (2017) [31] | 5 days/w for 1w Followed by 3 days/w. 3w | Walking Balance | AIH + BWST training reduced turning duration (min.) by 53% and reduced turn to sit duration (min.) by 24%. No change in postural sway and Time-Up-and-Go Test. |
| Lynch et al. (2017) [15] | 1 day | Ankle Strength | 18% and 30% increase in ankle plantar flexion torque (N/m) at 30 and 60 min post AIH respectively; No enhancement with ibuprofen. |
| Trumbower et al. (2017) [32] | 5days/w for 1 w | Hand Dexterity and Function | AIH + Hand opening practice improved time to complete Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test 7.2s relative to BL (11% faster), improved Box-and-Blocks Test (increase of 3 blocks/min). and improved hand opening. |
| Sandhu et al. (2019) [14] | 1 day | Ankle Strength | AIH alone increased maximum planter flexion torque by 29%. AIH + suppression of inflammation with prednisolone increased maximum ankle plantar flexion torque by 41 %. |