title: Use of an arm weight-bearing combined with upper-limb reaching apparatus to facilitate motor paralysis recovery in an incomplete spinal cord injury patient: a single case report.
abstract: [Purpose] Training using an arm weight-bearing device combined with upper-limb reaching apparatus to facilitate motor paralysis recovery, named the "Reaching Robot", as well as Repetitive Facilitation Exercise were applied to a patient with severe impairment of the shoulder and elbow due to incomplete spinal cord injury and the effects were examined. [Subjects and Methods] A 66-year-old man with incomplete spinal cord injury participated in an upper extremity rehabilitation program involving a Reaching Robot. The program was comprised of active motor suspension, continuous low amplitude neuromuscular electrical stimulation and functional vibratory stimulation, as well as Repetitive Facilitation Exercise combined with continuous low amplitude neuromuscular electrical stimulation. This protocol used a crossover design following an A1-B1-A2-B2. "A" consisted of 2 weeks of Repetitive Facilitation Exercise, and "B" consisted of 2 weeks of Reaching Robot training. [Results] Improvements were observed after all sessions. Active range of motion for shoulder flexion improved after 2 weeks of Reaching Robot sessions only. There were no adverse events. [Conclusion] Reaching Robot training for severe paretic upper-extremity after incomplete spinal cord injury was a safe and effective treatment. Reaching Robot training may be useful for rehabilitation of paretic upper-extremity after incomplete spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Kohshinkai Ogura Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoei
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawahira
authors.affiliation: Kohshinkai Ogura Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidefumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.affiliation: Kohshinkai Ogura Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sihgenobu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimodozono
authors.affiliation: Kohshinkai Ogura Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogura
keywords: Incomplete spinal cord injury; Reaching Robot training; Repetitive Facilitation Exercise