title: Effect of overground training augmented by mental practice on gait velocity in chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of a regimen combining mental practice (MP) with overground training (OT) with the efficacy of a regimen consisting of OT only on gait velocity and lower extremity motor outcomes in individuals with chronic (>12mo postinjury), incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient rehabilitation laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with chronic, incomplete SCI (N=18).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomly assigned to receive (1) OT only, occurring 3d/wk for 8 weeks; or (2) OT augmented by MP (MP + OT), during which randomly assigned subjects listened to an MP audio recording directly after OT sessions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were administered a test of gait velocity as well as the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment, Spinal Cord Injury Independence Measure, and Satisfaction With Life Scale on 2 occasions before intervention, 1 week after intervention, and 12 weeks after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in gait velocity was exhibited across subjects at both 1 week posttherapy (P=.005) and at 12 weeks posttherapy (P=.006). However, no differences were seen in intervention response at either 1 or 12 weeks postintervention among subjects in the MP + OT group versus the OT-only group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OT was associated with significant gains in gait velocity, and these gains were not augmented by further addition of MP.
authors.affiliation: Reeve Irvone Research Center, University of California-Irvine, Orange, CA.
authors.forename: Kelli G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, University of California-Irvine, Orange, CA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gramer
authors.affiliation: Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, University of California-Irvine, Orange, CA.
authors.forename: Laine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California-Irvine, Orange, CA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Erinn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hade
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH. Electronic address: Stephen.Page@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
keywords: Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries