Past Research Projects

During the 2000-2005 NIDRR funding cycle, the Northwest Regional Spinal Cord Injury System was engaged in the following research studies:

• “The prevalence and implications of sleep apnea in acute, traumatic tetraplegia” was led by Dr. Stephen Burns, assistant professor in Rehabilitation Medicine. Sleep apnea is more common among persons with SCI than in the general population and can have serious, harmful effects on health, function, and quality of life. Yet sleep apnea is little recognized or understood among physicians, even those who regularly treat SCI patients. The goal of this study was to better understand the frequency of sleep apnea in the acute SCI population and its effect on rehabilitation. Read more...

• "Hydrophilic catheters for prevention of UTIs: A randomized clinical trial in chronic SCI," led by Diana Cardenas, MD, investigated a new type of catheter designed to reduce urinary tract infections (UTIs) by minimizing the opportunity for bacteria to enter the bladder system. Read more...

• Collaborative Upper Limb Pain (CULP-SCI). This was a three-site collaborative study centered at the University of Pittsburgh. This study examined the manual wheelchair propulsion and transfer techniques used by people with SCI that over time can contribute to the high incidence of disabling upper limb pain in this population. The Seattle arm of the study was directed by Dr. Michael Chang, associate professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. In the UW's state-of-the-art Human Motion Analysis Laboratory, subjects underwent initial biomechanical studies that measured the mechanics of their wheelchair techniques. Following that, subjects participated in periodic telephone interviews that monitored upper limb pain and disability over a five year period. Data collection is complete but analyses continue and results are being published. See the list of publications from this study.