Introduction to Gait Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injury: Difference between revisions

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* Moon J et al. have found that hip flexors strength followed by knee extensors are the most important contributors to regain an independent walking in patients with incomplete SCI.<ref>Moon J, Yu J, Choi J, Kim M, Min K. [https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1150318 Degree of contribution of motor and sensory scores to predict gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.] Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017 Dec 28;41(6):969-78.</ref>
* Moon J et al. have found that hip flexors strength followed by knee extensors are the most important contributors to regain an independent walking in patients with incomplete SCI.<ref>Moon J, Yu J, Choi J, Kim M, Min K. [https://synapse.koreamed.org/articles/1150318 Degree of contribution of motor and sensory scores to predict gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.] Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017 Dec 28;41(6):969-78.</ref>
* A clinical prediction rule for ambulation outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury include motor scores of the quadriceps femoris (L3), gastrocsoleus (S1) muscles, and light touch sensation of dermatomes L3 and S1.  <ref>van Middendorp JJ, Hosman AJ, Donders AR, Pouw MH, Ditunno JF, Curt A, Geurts AC, Van de Meent H. A clinical prediction rule for ambulation outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet. 2011 Mar 19;377(9770):1004-10.</ref>
* The score greater than 33 for the motor scores of the quadriceps (L3), big toe extensors (L5), and the light touch sensory score (S1) indicate the likehood of the patient to regain outdoor walking ability one year after spinal cord injury.<ref>Draganich C, Weber KA 2nd, Thornton WA, Berliner JC, Sevigny M, Charlifue S, Tefertiller C, Smith AC. Predicting Outdoor Walking 1 Year After Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective, Multisite External Validation Study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2023 Jul 1;47(3):155-161. </ref>


=== injury severity ===
=== Severity of the Lesion ===
is classified as ASIA A, B, C, D, or E,
The first examination of the patient with the SCI is performed using  The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). It allows to determine the neurological level of injury, and the severity of the lesion. The [[American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale|ASIA Impairment Scale]] (AIS) A through D defines the complete and incomplete lesions.


== Assistive Devices ==
== Assistive Devices ==

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Introduction[edit | edit source]

Plasticity-Based Approach[edit | edit source]

The plasticity-based approach in gait rehabilitation in spinal cord injury (SCI) arises from the research on activity-dependent neural adaptation and training. The afferent input influences activity-dependent plasticity of the spinal cord which affect the neurobiological control of walking. [1] The examples can be found in the studies by Sherrington[2], Grillner and Rossignol [3] who looked at the input of hip position and the effect of load on retraining walking after SCI. As the result of these studies, the rehabilitation strategies to regain the ability to ambulate by the patient with a spinal cord injury focused on hip extension, load and other sensory elements to facilitate walking.

In plasticity-based approach a specific task, like locomotion undergoes intensive practice in a specific training environment, while an appropriate sensory input is provided. The training environment may include treadmill with body-weight support (BWS), lokomat, or Exoskeleton. The sensory input can be offered in a form of limb loading and unloading, trunk posture, hip extension, or limb kinematics.

Example: Locomotor training using a Lokomat.

  • The goal is to generate stepping in response to specific afferent input associated with the task of walking
  • The general guidelines focus on maximising loading of the lower limbs through body-weight support systems or overground walking with assistive devices

Compensatory-Based Approach[edit | edit source]

Compensation is "a rehabilitation strategy for non-remediable deficits of strength (force-generating capacity), voluntary motor control, sensation, and balance."[4]It is based on the principles that patients use their remaining abilities (compensate) to complete the task, or the task or environment are modified to achieve the established goal.[4]

In compensatory-based approach a task of walking is accomplished with the use of orthosis and assistive devices, and the outcome depends on the degree of motor and sensory loss.

Predictors for Functional Outcome of Walking[edit | edit source]

Motor and Sensory Loss[edit | edit source]

  • Moon J et al. have found that hip flexors strength followed by knee extensors are the most important contributors to regain an independent walking in patients with incomplete SCI.[5]
  • A clinical prediction rule for ambulation outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury include motor scores of the quadriceps femoris (L3), gastrocsoleus (S1) muscles, and light touch sensation of dermatomes L3 and S1. [6]
  • The score greater than 33 for the motor scores of the quadriceps (L3), big toe extensors (L5), and the light touch sensory score (S1) indicate the likehood of the patient to regain outdoor walking ability one year after spinal cord injury.[7]

Severity of the Lesion[edit | edit source]

The first examination of the patient with the SCI is performed using The International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI). It allows to determine the neurological level of injury, and the severity of the lesion. The ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) A through D defines the complete and incomplete lesions.

Assistive Devices[edit | edit source]

Orthosis[edit | edit source]

Ambulatory Devices[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit | edit source]

  • bulleted list
  • x

or

  1. numbered list
  2. x

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Van de Crommert HW, Mulder T, Duysens J. Neural control of locomotion: sensory control of the central pattern generator and its relation to treadmill training. Gait Posture. 1998 May 1;7(3):251-263.
  2. Sherrington CS. Flexion-reflex of the limb, crossed extension-reflex, and reflex stepping and standing. J Physiol. 1910 Apr 26;40(1-2):28-121.
  3. Grillner S, Rossignol S. On the initiation of the swing phase of locomotion in chronic spinal cats. Brain Res. 1978 May 12;146(2):269-77.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Behrman AL, Bowden MG, Nair PM. Neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury and training: an emerging paradigm shift in rehabilitation and walking recovery. Phys Ther. 2006 Oct;86(10):1406-25.
  5. Moon J, Yu J, Choi J, Kim M, Min K. Degree of contribution of motor and sensory scores to predict gait ability in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2017 Dec 28;41(6):969-78.
  6. van Middendorp JJ, Hosman AJ, Donders AR, Pouw MH, Ditunno JF, Curt A, Geurts AC, Van de Meent H. A clinical prediction rule for ambulation outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury: a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet. 2011 Mar 19;377(9770):1004-10.
  7. Draganich C, Weber KA 2nd, Thornton WA, Berliner JC, Sevigny M, Charlifue S, Tefertiller C, Smith AC. Predicting Outdoor Walking 1 Year After Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective, Multisite External Validation Study. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2023 Jul 1;47(3):155-161.