Denervation impacts muscle quality and knee bone mineral density after spinal cord injury.

SCI results in skeletal muscle atrophy and dramatic changes in body composition. Lower motor neuron (LMN) injury results in denervation of the lower extremity muscles which exacerbates atrophy. Denervated participants exhibited lower leg lean mass and muscle CSA, greater muscle IMF, and reduced knee BMD compared to innervated participants. Future research is needed to explore therapeutic treatments for the denervated muscles after SCI.