Eccentric Motor Control After SCI

Exclusion Criteria

• •evidence of lower motor neuron injury in the legs
• •use of botox in the past 3 months
• •pre-existing or confounding neurologic conditions (i.e. brain injury, stroke, HIV)
• •acute deep vein thrombosis
• •skin wounds in regions where harness or hands provide support
• •pregnancy. Note: Persons who are pregnant will not be enrolled as exercise tolerance is unknown in these women with SCI.
• •cognitive conditions that preclude providing informed consent
• •ventilator-dependence as study results will be confounded by mobility limitations imposed by equipment
• •persistent orthostatic hypotension (drop of BP \>30mmHg in treadmill and harness equipment)
• •hospitalization for myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery or congestive heart failure exacerbation within 3 months of enrollment in study
• •participation in any other concurrent exercise programs.
• •Note: Use of anti-spasticity and other medications (dose, frequency) will be monitored throughout training and used as a confounding variable in the analyses.