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Schoffl J, Arora M, Pozzato I, McBain C, Rodrigues D, Vafa E, Middleton J, Davis GM, Gustin SM, Bourke J, Kifley A, Krassioukov AV, Cameron ID, Craig A. Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback in Adults with a Spinal Cord Injury: A Laboratory Framework and Case Series. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7664. [PMID: 38137732 PMCID: PMC10743967 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-F) is a neurocardiac self-regulation therapy that aims to regulate cardiac autonomic nervous system activity and improve cardiac balance. Despite benefits in various clinical populations, no study has reported the effects of HRV-F in adults with a spinal cord injury (SCI). This article provides an overview of a neuropsychophysiological laboratory framework and reports the impact of an HRV-F training program on two adults with chronic SCI (T1 AIS A and T3 AIS C) with different degrees of remaining cardiac autonomic function. The HRV-F intervention involved 10 weeks of face-to-face and telehealth sessions with daily HRV-F home practice. Physiological (HRV, blood pressure variability (BPV), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)), and self-reported assessments (Fatigue Severity Scale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Appraisal of Disability and Participation Scale, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale) were conducted at baseline and 10 weeks. Participants also completed weekly diaries capturing mood, anxiety, pain, sleep quality, fatigue, and adverse events. Results showed some improvement in HRV, BPV, and BRS. Additionally, participants self-reported some improvements in mood, fatigue, pain, quality of life, and self-perception. A 10-week HRV-F intervention was feasible in two participants with chronic SCI, warranting further investigation into its autonomic and psychosocial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Schoffl
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Mohit Arora
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Ilaria Pozzato
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Candice McBain
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Dianah Rodrigues
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Elham Vafa
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia;
| | - James Middleton
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Glen M. Davis
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia;
| | - Sylvia Maria Gustin
- NeuroRecovery Research Hub, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;
- The Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - John Bourke
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Annette Kifley
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Andrei V. Krassioukov
- ICORD, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
| | - Ian D. Cameron
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Ashley Craig
- John Walsh Centre Rehabilitation Research, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia; (M.A.); (I.P.); (C.M.); (D.R.); (E.V.); (J.M.); (J.B.); (A.K.); (I.D.C.); (A.C.)
- The Kolling Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
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Guaraldi P, Malacarne M, Barletta G, Scisciolo GD, Pagani M, Cortelli P, Lucini D. Effects of Spinal Cord Injury Site on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation: Insight from Analysis of Cardiovascular Beat by Beat Variability during Sleep and Orthostatic Challenge. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2022; 7:jfmk7040112. [PMID: 36547658 PMCID: PMC9787160 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk7040112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study on Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients with cervical or thoracic lesion was to assess whether disturbances of ANS control, according to location, might differently affect vagal and sympatho-vagal markers during sleep and orthostatic challenge. We analyzed with linear and nonlinear techniques beat-by-beat RR and arterial pressure (and respiration) variability signals, extracted from a polysomnographic study and a rest-tilt test. We considered spontaneous or induced sympathetic excitation, as obtained shifting from non-REM to REM sleep or from rest to passive tilt. We obtained evidence of ANS cardiac (dys)regulation, of greater importance for gradually proximal location (i.e., cervical) SCI, compatible with a progressive loss of modulatory role of sympathetic afferents to the spinal cord. Furthermore, in accordance with the dual, vagal and sympathetic bidirectional innervation, the results suggest that vagally mediated negative feedback baroreflexes were substantially maintained in all cases. Conversely, the LF and HF balance (expressed specifically by normalized units) appeared to be negatively affected by SCI, particularly in the case of cervical lesion (group p = 0.006, interaction p = 0.011). Multivariate analysis of cardiovascular variability may be a convenient technique to assess autonomic responsiveness and alteration of functionality in patients with SCI addressing selectively vagal or sympathetic alterations and injury location. This contention requires confirmatory studies with a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Guaraldi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
| | - Mara Malacarne
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Barletta
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Scisciolo
- Neurofisiopatologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Massimo Pagani
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DiBiNeM), Alma Mater Studiorum–University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Lucini
- BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, 20129 Milan, Italy
- Exercise Medicine Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, 20135 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02619112808
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