Recovery of Walking in Persons With Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Middle Tennessee State University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Treatments

Behavioral: Exercise

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04237363

11-310

Details and patient eligibility

About

We documented the impact of 1 year of underwater treadmill training and supplemental overground walk training in five adults with chronic motor-complete SCI (cSCI) who had not undergone programmed epidural spinal cord stimulation (eSCS).

Full description

Regular exposure to self-initiated treadmill walking in water, a unique sensorimotor exercise setting that makes stepping movements easier to perform, may capitalize on the adaptability of the neuromuscular system and enhance locomotor function in persons with cSCI who have not undergone eSCS. In our study, a combined aquatics- and land-based approach to gait training was employed over a 12-month period that featured underwater treadmill training and supplemental overground walk training.

Enrollment

5 patients

Sex

All

Ages

21+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

At least 21 years of age
Presence of traumatic or non-traumatic spinal cord injury for at least 1 year
Medical diagnosis of paraplegia (T1 or below)

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of complex comorbidities that could limit involvement in training activities
Surgical implantation or removal of a medical device six months prior to training
Skin breakdown
Use of electrical implants to promote ambulation