Letter to the Editor: “Is body-weight-supported treadmill training or robotic-assisted gait training superior to overground gait training and other forms of physiotherapy in people with spinal cord injury? A systematic review”

Background: Rhythmic auditory stimulation and body weight supported treadmill training both are standardized gait rehabilitation techniques. However there is limited literature evaluating the effect of rhythmic auditory stimulation and its combination with gait training in spinal cord injury. Aim of this study is to determine the short term effectiveness of rhythmic auditory stimulation with body weight supported treadmill training on gait and balance in individuals with incomplete Spinal Cord Injury. Method: A randomized control study design. 8 subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated into two groups: Experimental and Control. Subjects in experimental group were given body weight supported treadmill training with rhythmic auditory stimulation. Subjects in Control Group were given Body weight supported treadmill training alone. Both the groups received conventional rehabilitation as well. Both groups received training for 30 minutes, five times a week for two weeks (10 sessions). Outcome Measures: Gait parameters i.e. cadence, velocity, step length were measured using the Biodex Gait Trainer 2TM, level of walking performance measured using Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II, and balance was evaluated using Prokin 252NTM , Berg Balance Scale, and Activity specific Balance Confidence scale. Results: No significant improvement was found on gait parameters i.e. cadence, velocity, step length which were measured using the Gait Trainer, level of walking performance measured using WISCI II, and balance which was evaluated using Prokin 252NTM , Berg Balance Scale, and Activity specific Balance Confidence scale. Conclusion: Rhythmic auditory stimulation didn’t have any positive effect on gait training in incomplete spinal cord injured patients. Further studies are warranted to explore the entrainment effects of rhythmic auditory stimulation in spinal cord injured individuals on gait rehabilitation. Keywords: Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training (BWSTT), Metronome, Incomplete spinal cord injury, Biodex Gait Trainer 2.0, Prokin 252N

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Robotic-Assisted, Body-Weight–Supported Treadmill Training in Individuals Following Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/85.1.52 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 85 (1) ◽

pp. 52-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 165

Author(s):

T George Hornby ◽

David H Zemon ◽

Donielle Campbell

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Body Weight ◽

Physical Therapists ◽

Treadmill Training ◽

Neurological Injury ◽

Walking Ability ◽

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Robotic Assisted ◽

Cord Injury

AbstractBackground and Purpose. Performance of therapist-assisted, body-weight–supported treadmill training (BWSTT) to enhance walking ability of people with neurological injury is an area of intense research. Its application in the clinical setting, however, is limited by the personnel and labor requirements placed on physical therapists. Recent development of motorized (“robotic”) rehabilitative devices that provide assistance during stepping may improve delivery of BWSTT. Case Description. This case report describes the use of a robotic device to enhance motor recovery and ambulation in 3 people following motor incomplete spinal cord injury. Interventions. Changes in motor impairment, functional limitations, and locomotor disability were monitored weekly during robotic-assisted BWSTT and following transition to therapist-assisted BWSTT with the assistance of one therapist. Outcomes. Following this training, 2 patients recovered independent over-ground walking and another improved his gait speed and endurance. Discussion. The use of robotic devices may assist physical therapists by providing task-specific practice of stepping in people following neurological injury.

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Is body weight-support treadmill training effective in increasing muscle trophism after traumatic spinal cord injury? A systematic review

Spinal Cord ◽

10.1038/sc.2014.198 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 176-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

C C do Espírito Santo ◽

A Swarowsky ◽

T L Recchia ◽

A P F Lopes ◽

J Ilha

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Body Weight ◽

Treadmill Training ◽

Body Weight Support ◽

Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Weight Support ◽

Cord Injury

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Advantage in muscle activation in gait with support of body weight in spinal cord injury

Fisioterapia em Movimento ◽

10.1590/1980-5918.031.ao29 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Jéssica Saccol Borin ◽

Tânia Valdameri Capelari ◽

Melissa Grigol Goldhardt ◽

Márcia Cristina Issa ◽

Diego Antônio Pereira Bica dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Body Weight ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Gait Training ◽

Treadmill Training ◽

Body Weight Support ◽

Weight Support ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Injured Patients

Abstract Introduction: The locomotor training with body weight support has been proposed as an alternative for the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury, in order to develop most of the residual potential of the body. Objective: To compare the levels of muscle activation of the main muscle involved in gait during body weight-supported treadmill training and body weight-supported overground training in incomplete spinal cord injured patients. Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional study, in which 11 incomplete injured patients were submitted to two modalities of gait with body weight support, the first one on the treadmill (two different speeds: 1 and 4km/h), and the second one with the walker on fixed floor. The electromyographical acquisition was done in the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL) and gluteus maximus (GM). Results: There was a greater muscle activation of all muscles analyzed in the treadmill training as compared to the over groundtraining, both at 4 km/h (RF: p=0.00), (VM: p=0.00), (VL: p=0.00) e (GM: p=0.00) and at 1km/h (RF: p=0.00), (VM: p=0.00), (VL: p=0.00) e (GM: p=0.00). When comparing the two modalities of treadmill training, at 4 and 1km/h, there was no statically significant difference between them (RF: p=0.36), (VM: p=1.00), (VL: p=1.00) e (GM: p=0.16). Conclusion: The gait training with body weight support is more effective in activating the muscles involved in the gait training on treadmill compared to overground training in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.

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