Gait rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury using innovative technologies: an observational study

Autor: Giulia, Stampacchia, Matteo, Olivieri, Alessandro, Rustici, Carla, D'Avino, Adriana, Gerini, Stefano, Mazzoleni
Rok vydání: 2019
Předmět:
Zdroj: Spinal cord. 58(9)
ISSN: 1476-5624
Popis: Prospective, quasi-experimental study, pre- and post-design, single arm study.Investigate whether persons affected by SCI can safely experience walking function using Robotic Exoskeletons and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES).Inpatient METHODS: 52 persons with SCI were recruited (36 completed the protocol) and assigned to one of two groups based on their Lower Limb Motor Scores (LEMS): Group A: LEMS ≥ 10 and Group B: LEMS 10. Participants in Group A (n = 19) underwent 20 sessions of Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) on a treadmill followed by 20 sessions of FES during Overground Gait (FES-OG). Participants in Group B (n = 17) received 20 sessions of FES-cycling followed by 20 sessions of overground RAGT. The main outcome measures were: WISCI-II, 10MWT, 6MWT, TUG and SCIM-II.36 persons completed the study with no complications; only 4 of the 16 dropped out because of mild complications during the RAGT. Participants in Group A exhibited significant improvements in WISCI-II, 10MWT, 6MWT and TUG (p 0.05), while those in Group B did not significantly improve their gait function but their walking velocity and resistance with the assistance of the robotic exoskeleton increased. SCIM-II scores increased followed therapy only in Group A.Persons affected by SCI can safely experience their walking function with RAGT and FES therapy; only few mild complications were observed. Our data provides initial evidence of the potential value of these technologies, especially in persons with SCI having LEMS 10.
Databáze: OpenAIRE