Thesis
A study on the tolerance of intermittent hypoxia training and its effect on sensory and motor spinal pathways
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2021
- Thesis identifier
- T16196
- Person Identifier (Local)
- 201755513
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Intermittent hypoxia is defined as brief exposures of low oxygen concentration. It is commonly associated with a disease state known as obstructive sleep apnoea, however, a mild to moderate form can benefit patients with spinal cord injury. Studies have shown that a single exposure of intermittent hypoxia enhances the excitability of spinal connections spared following a cord injury. The enhanced excitability may last for more than an hour and during this time medical professionals can use conventional rehabilitation therapies and offer a heighten rehabilitation outcome and perhaps even speed up recovery. Nevertheless, there is a limited understanding in the tolerance of the intermittent hypoxia protocol given to spinal cord injury patients and its effects on spinal pathways. The purpose of this thesis was to go back to the basics and study intermittent hypoxia on healthy volunteers. To examine the tolerance, and to also find an appropriate IHT intervention that challenged the homeostasis of healthy volunteers, measurements of heart rate, saturation of oxygen in the blood, and blood pressure were taken. To analyse the response of the autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability was analysed. Regarding the investigation on spinal pathways, the effect on the sensory and motor pathways was examined by recording somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials. These measurements were taken prior, during and up to 30 minutes following the IHT intervention. Results showed that a single exposure of IHT given to healthy young volunteers was well tolerated and its effects were long lasting and localised on the corticospinal tract following a stimulus on the motor cortex. Yet, to know the true potential of its ability to alter corticospinal excitability it is also essential to study its effect on skeletal muscle metabolism and as a result on force.
- Advisor / supervisor
- Conway, Bernard
- Resource Type
- DOI
Relations
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