title: The effect of functional electrical stimulation cycling on late functional improvement in patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective single-arm study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling on late functional recovery, spasticity, gait parameters and oxygen consumption during walking in patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with chronic (duration of more than 2 years) incomplete SCI who could ambulate at least 10 m independently or with the assistance of a cane or walker, but no hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis. The subjects underwent 1-h FES cycling sessions three times a week for 16 weeks. Outcome measures including the total motor score, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, the Modified Ashworth Scale for knee spasticity, temporal spatial gait parameters and oxygen consumption rate during walking were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months after the baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were statistically significant improvements in total motor scores, the FIM scores and spasticity level at the 6-month follow-up (P<0.01). The changes in gait parameters reached no significant level (P>0.05). Oxygen consumption rate of the patients showed significant reduction at only 6 months compared with baseline (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that FES cycling may provide some functional improvements in the late period of SCI.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
authors: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Yaşar
authors: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Yılmaz
authors: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Göktepe
authors: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: S
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9400-4683
authors: S
authors: Kesikburun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult