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


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of body weight-support treadmill training (BWSTT) for muscle atrophy management in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Studies from multiple countries were included.


METHODS
The following databases were consulted from January to October 2013: PubMed, Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Science Direct and Lilacs. The methodological quality of the articles included was classified according to Jovell and Navarro-Rubio.


RESULTS
A total of five studies were included. These studies reported a significant association between BWSTT and increased trophism of the lower limb muscles of humans with SCI, which was observed as an increase in the cross-sectional area. Moreover, improvements in the ability to generate peak torque, contract the knee extensors and ankle plantarflexors with reduction of body weight support were observed after BWSTT.


CONCLUSIONS
The results were considered inconclusive because of the low methodological quality of the articles, which was because of the absence of sample homogeneity, thereby providing a low level of evidence for clinical practice.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia, Centro do Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil.|Departamento de Fisioterapia, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental (LAPEx), Centro de Ciência da Saúde e do Esporte, UDESC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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do Espírito Santo
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia, Centro do Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil.|Departamento de Fisioterapia, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental (LAPEx), Centro de Ciência da Saúde e do Esporte, UDESC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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Swarowsky
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental (LAPEx), Centro de Ciência da Saúde e do Esporte, UDESC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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TL
Recchia
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental (LAPEx), Centro de Ciência da Saúde e do Esporte, UDESC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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APF
Lopes
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia, Centro do Ciências da Saúde e do Esporte, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil.|Departamento de Fisioterapia, Laboratório de Pesquisa Experimental (LAPEx), Centro de Ciência da Saúde e do Esporte, UDESC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
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Ilha