Locomotor training progression and outcomes after incomplete spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
The use of locomotor training with a body-weight-support system and treadmill (BWST) and manual assistance has increased in rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report is to describe the process for retraining walking in a person with an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) using the BWST and transferring skills from the BWST to overground assessment and community ambulation.


METHODS
Following discharge from rehabilitation, a man with an incomplete SCI at C5-6 and an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale classification of D participated in 45 sessions of locomotor training.


RESULTS
Walking speed and independence improved from 0.19 m/s as a home ambulator using a rolling walker and a right ankle-foot orthosis to 1.01 m/s as a full-time ambulator using a cane only for community mobility. Walking activity (mean+/-SD) per 24 hours increased from 1,054+/-543 steps to 3,924+/-1,629 steps.


CONCLUSIONS
In a person with an incomplete SCI, walking ability improved after locomotor training that used a decision-making algorithm and progression across training environments.
Behrman
Andrea L
AL
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Box 100154, UFHSC, Gainesville, FL 32610-0154, USA. abehrman@phhp.ufl.edu
Lawless-Dixon
Anna R
AR
Davis
Sandra B
SB
Bowden
Mark G
MG
Nair
Preeti
P
Phadke
Chetan
C
Hannold
Elizabeth M
EM
Plummer
Prudence
P
Harkema
Susan J
SJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000465:Algorithms; D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation*