Abstract
Objectives: Locomotor training (LT) enhances walking in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). We tested the acute effects of 4 days of LT using BWSTT combined with Robotic Locomotor therapy compared to BWSTT twice weekly. Design: Two non-ambulatory participants with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) D. Both received LT for 2 weeks as a portion of their clinical inpatient rehabilitation program and both used wheelchairs as their primary method of mobility. Over a 2 week period, one participant received a total of 8 visits consisting of manual BWSTT (twice weekly) combined with Robotic locomotor therapy (twice weekly). The other participant preformed manual BWSTT (twice weekly) for a total of 4 visits. Resting energy expenditure, body composition, muscle strength, submaximal oxygen consumption (VO-{2}) and blood lactate during LT were measured pre and post-training. Results: The average maximum voluntary contraction of both knee extensor muscle groups increased by 28-34% with associated reduction in spasticity to the BWSTT participant. Two week interventions resulted in a downward shift of the lactate concentrations for both participants, increase in resting energy expenditure and shift in substrate utilization. Discussion and conclusion: A clinical paradigm of incorporating BWSTT with robotic locomotor therapy for 4 days/ week did not provide additional physiological benefits to skeletal muscle strength, spasticity or metabolic profile compared to twice weekly of LT using BWSTT.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 79-83 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | NeuroRehabilitation |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2011 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation
- Clinical Neurology