Effects of Testosterone and Finasteride on Muscle After Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

March 2023 in “ Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ”

Dana Otzel, David Clark, Jonathan Miles, Varsini Balamurugan, Joelle Simpson, Larissa Nichols, Christine Conover, Chris Gregory, Christopher Sonntag, Anita Wokhlu, Charles Levy, Charles Plumlee, Robert Sammel, Kevin White, Joshua Yarrow

testosterone finasteride knee extensor strength cross-sectional area isometric torque isokinetic torque Propecia

TLDR Testosterone and finasteride improve muscle strength and size after spinal cord injury.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study evaluated the effects of high-dose testosterone plus finasteride (T+F) on knee extensor (KE) strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) in 10 men with impaired gait and low to low-normal testosterone following chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Participants received T+F or a placebo for 6-12 months. Results showed significant improvements in KE strength and CSA in the T+F group compared to the placebo group, with notable increases in isometric and isokinetic torque and CSA at both 6 and 12 months. The study suggests that T+F can enhance muscle strength and size in this population, warranting further investigation through larger clinical trials.

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