Artificial gait in complete spinal cord injured subjects: how to assess clinical performance.
Adapt the 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) to artificial gait in complete spinal cord injured (SCI) patients aided by neuromuscular electrical stimulation.



Nine male individuals with paraplegia (AIS A) participated in this study. Lesion levels varied between T4 and T12 and time post injured from 4 to 13 years. Patients performed 6MWT 1 and 6MWT 2. They used neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and were aided by a walker. The differences between two 6MWT were assessed by using a paired t test. Multiple r-squared was also calculated.



The 6MWT 1 and 6MWT 2 were not statistically different for heart rate, distance, mean speed and blood pressure. Multiple r-squared (r2 = 0.96) explained 96% of the variation in the distance walked.



The use of 6MWT in artificial gait towards assessing exercise walking capacity is reproducible and easy to apply. It can be used to assess SCI artificial gait clinical performance.
Departamento de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Karla Rocha
KR
Pithon
Departamento de Biomecânica, Medicina e Reabilitação do Aparelho Locomotor, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
Daniela Cristina Carvalho de
DC
Abreu
Departamento de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Renata
R
Vasconcelos-Neto
Departamento de Ciências do Esporte, Faculdade de Educação Física, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Luiz Eduardo Barreto
LE
Martins
Departamento de Ortopedia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Alberto
A
Cliquet
D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult