Measurement Characteristics and Clinical Utility of the 6-Minute Walk Test Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
pp. 1675-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Tappan ◽  
Jason Raad ◽  
Jennifer Moore
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrei Zieriacks ◽  
Mirko Aach ◽  
Alexis Brinkemper ◽  
Daniela Koller ◽  
Thomas Armin Schildhauer ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess the outcome of acute and chronic participants with spinal cord injury (SCI) after 12 weeks of bodyweight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) with a hybrid assistive limb exoskeleton (HAL). Acute participants were defined as ≤12 months between SCI and training, chronic participants >12 months between SCI and training. We assessed whether HAL-assisted BWSTT is advantageous for acute and chronic participants and if length of time post injury impacts the outcome of HAL-assisted BWSTT. As the primary outcome, we assessed the time needed for the 10 meter walk test (10MWT). Hundred and twenty-one individuals participated in a 12-week HAL-assisted BWSTT five times a week. We regularly conducted a 10MWT, a 6 minute walk test (6MWT), and assessed the walking index for spinal cord injury (WISCI II) and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) to evaluate the gait performance without the exoskeleton. Distance and time were recorded by the treadmill while the participant was walking with the exoskeleton. All participants benefit from the 12-week HAL-assisted BWSTT. A significant difference between acute and chronic participants' outcomes was found in 6MWT, LEMS, and WISCI II, though not in 10MWT. Although chronic participants improved significantly lesser than acute participants, they did improve their outcome significantly compared to the beginning. Hybrid assistive limb-assisted BWSTT in the rehabilitation of patients with SCI is advantageous for both acute and chronic patients. We could not define a time related cut-off threshold following SCI for effectiveness of HAL-assisted BWSTT.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e94108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail F. Forrest ◽  
Karen Hutchinson ◽  
Douglas J. Lorenz ◽  
Jeffrey J. Buehner ◽  
Leslie R. VanHiel ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (08) ◽  
pp. 1940060
Author(s):  
XINGANG BAI ◽  
XIANG GOU ◽  
WENCHUN WANG ◽  
CHAO DONG ◽  
FANGXU QUE ◽  
...  

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot improving walking function and activity in patients with complete spinal cord injury. A prospective, open and self-controlled trial was conducted which include eight patients with complete spinal cord injury accepted Lower Extremity Exoskeleton Robot training with Aider 1.0 and Aider 1.1 for 2 weeks. The 6[Formula: see text]min Walk Test (6MWT), 10[Formula: see text]m Walk Test (10 MWT), Hoffer walking ability rating, Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), Spinal Cord Independence Motor (SCIM), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury Version II (WISCI II) were recorded before, 1 week and 2 weeks after training. During the training, the incidence of adverse events (AE), the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE), the incidence of device defects and other safety indicators were observed. Compared with the pre-training, indicators (6MWT, 10MWT, Hoffer walking ability rating, WISCI II) were significantly different after 1 week of training and after 2 weeks of training. Four adverse events occurred during the training period and the incidence of adverse events was 50%. And there was no SAE or device defects. Therefore, it is safe and effective to use the lower extremity exoskeleton robot to complete the walking ability of patients with complete spinal cord injury.


2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Lam ◽  
Katherine Pauhl ◽  
Andrei Krassioukov ◽  
Janice J. Eng

Background and Purpose The efficacy of task-specific gait training for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) is premised on evidence that the provision of gait-related afferent feedback is key for the recovery of stepping movements. Recent findings have shown that sensory feedback from flexor muscle afferents can facilitate flexor muscle activity during the swing phase of walking. This case report was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using robot-applied forces to resist leg movements during body-weight–supported treadmill training (BWSTT) and to measure its effect on gait and other health-related outcomes. Case Description The patient described in this case report was a 43-year-old man with a T11 incomplete chronic SCI. He underwent 36 sessions of BWSTT using a robotic gait orthosis to provide forces that resist hip and knee flexion. Outcomes Tolerance to the training program was monitored using the Borg CR10 scale and heart rate and blood pressure changes during each training session. Outcome measures (ie, 10-Meter Walk Test, Six-Minute Walk Test, modified Emory Functional Ambulation Profile [mEFAP], Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) were completed and kinematic parameters of gait, lower-extremity muscle strength (force-generating capacity), lower-limb girth, and tolerance to orthostatic stress were measured before and after the training program. Discussion The patient could tolerate the training. Overground walking speed, endurance, and performance on all subtasks of the mEFAP improved and were accompanied by increased lower-limb joint flexion and toe clearance during gait. The patient's ambulatory self-confidence and self-perceived performance in walking also improved. These findings suggest that this new approach to BWSTT is a feasible and potentially effective therapy for improving skilled overground walking performance.


Author(s):  
Isabel Sinovas-Alonso ◽  
Ángel Gil-Agudo ◽  
Roberto Cano-de-la-Cuerda ◽  
Antonio J. del-Ama

Walking function recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI) is tackled through several therapeutic approaches in which precise evaluation is essential. A systematic review was performed to provide an updated qualitative review of walking ability outcome measures in SCI and to analyze their psychometric properties. PubMed, Cochrane, and PEDro databases were consulted until 1 April 2020. Seventeen articles written in English were included. Five of them studied the walking index for SCI, four studied the 10 meter walk test, and two studied the six-minute walk test, the timed Up and go test, and the Berg balance scale. The rest of the articles studied the following metrics: gait profile score, spinal cord injury functional ambulation profile, five times sit-to-stand test, spinal cord injury functional ambulation inventory, spinal cord independence measure (indoors and outdoors mobility items), locomotor stages in spinal cord injury, community balance and mobility scale, and activity-based balance level evaluation scale. The choice of a single or a set of metrics should be determined by the clinician. Based on the results obtained in this review, a combination of outcome measures is proposed to assess walking ability. Future work is required to integrate a more realistic environment for walking assessment.


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