RESEARCH FRONT: Study Participants Wanted

FES Exercise and the Health of Young Persons with SCI
Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, New Jersey is recruiting children and young adults (ages 5-21) with spinal cord injuries to participate in a clinical study. The study is being conducted to see if these patients will be helped by a functional electrical stimulation (FES) bicycle exercise program (The bike is an FDA-approved device). It is known that children who are unable to walk because of spinal cord damage experience loss of muscle mass and bone mineral density over time, which puts them at risk for bone fractures. Through this exercise program, we are hoping to see an improvement in muscle mass and bone mineral density, increased cardiovascular endurance, and increased sense of self-esteem and psychological well-being.

In order to determine eligibility for this study, participants will be given a medical evaluation which includes a physical exam, basic laboratory evaluation, x-rays of the legs, and a special scan to determine bone mineral density. Once accepted into the study, participants will undergo 9 months (3 sessions per week/up to 30-min sessions) of FES cycling exercise. Participants will be able to read, watch television, etc during the bike sessions.

This study is free of cost to participants. If you are interested in signing up for an evaluation or would like to learn more about the study, please contact Stefanie at 908-389-5638 or e-mail: sandelsm@umdnj.edu.

On-line Survey: Resilience
We are graduate students in Columbia University’s Occupational Therapy Program and we are in the process of completing our Master’s Project. We are requesting your participation in an online survey in order to further our knowledge about resilience in populations with spinal cord injuries. The survey will include some demographic questions, as well as a Resilience Scale developed by Wagnild & Young (1987). Your responses will provide important information as we work towards understanding the factors related to what makes individuals resilient.

There are no risks associated with completing this survey and scale. Your involvement is purely voluntary. If you decide to participate, please complete the online survey. To access the survey, type this link to your web browser: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=925311546671. Because all responses to the survey will be collected through this web page, your participation will remain completely anonymous.

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact Dr. Janet Falk-Kessler at jf6@columbia.edu. If you would like to know the outcome of our study, you can send a letter regarding all inquiries, with a self-addressed envelope to Dr. Janet Falk-Kessler, EdD, OTR, FAOTA, Director and Associate Professor, at Columbia University Programs in Occupational Therapy, 710 West 168th Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10032.
Karina Becker, Erika Thomas and Melinda Vega, Columbia University

On-Line Survey: Self-Efficacy
Researchers at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois, are looking for people with spinal cord injuries to participate in an online study at http://scott.vegchicago.com. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between levels of self-efficacy and levels of physical activity in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Self-efficacy is a term that refers to a person’s belief or sense of confidence in his or her own ability to perform a particular task or behavior successfully in the future. Because a spinal cord injury poses incredible emotional challenges in adjusting to new levels of independence, a psychological variable like self-efficacy is important in influencing quality of life. It is unknown what factors directly contribute to levels of self-efficacy in persons with spinal cord injuries.
Becky Arquilla and Annie Flach, Midwestern University

Forgiveness and Coping after Spinal Cord Injury

• Are you a person who currently lives with a spinal cord injury? Do you know someone who currently lives with a spinal cord injury?
• Do you have an interest in participating in an exciting and innovative research study?
• Do you have an interest in learning more about yourself?
• Are you currently struggling with some part of your life? If so, do you want to learn some ways to potentially help you change your life?

If you answered “YES” to all or most of these questions, are interested in participating in a research study, and meet the following criteria then contact this study’s researcher:

(a) Have lived with a spinal cord injury for at least one year
(b) Are between the ages of 18 and 55
(c) Might feel that your injury was ‘unfair’ or ‘unjust’ regardless of the cause or attributing factor
(d) Would be interested in working on forgiveness
(e) Do not currently drink over three drinks per day or use illegal substances

If you have further questions or want additional information, please contact Susan Stuntzner, Rehabilitation Psychology Doctoral Candidate, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, 432 N. Murray Street, Madison, WI, 53706, email: smstuntzner@wisc.edu, phone: 608-438-2478.