Effects of Overground Locomotor Training on Walking Performance in Chronic Cervical Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

Objective: To determine the effects of a novel overground locomotor training program on walking performance in people with chronic cervical motor incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).

Design: Before-after pilot study.

Setting: Human performance research laboratory.

Participants: Adults (N=6, age >18y) with chronic cervical iSCI with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades C and D.

Interventions: Overground locomotor training included two 90-minute sessions per week for 12 to 15 weeks. Training sessions alternated between uniplanar and multiplanar stepping patterns. Each session was comprised of 5 segments: joint mobility, volitional muscle activation, task isolation, task integration, and activity rehearsal.

Main outcome measures: Overground walking speed, oxygen consumption (V˙o₂), and carbon dioxide production (V˙co₂).

Results: Overground locomotor training increased overground walking speed (.36±.20 vs .51±.24 m/s, P<.001, d=.68). Significant decreases in V˙o₂ (6.6±1.3 vs 5.7±1.4mL·kg·min, P=.038, d=.67) and V˙co₂ (753.1±125.5 vs 670.7±120.3mL/min, P=.036, d=.67) during self-selected constant work rate treadmill walking were also noted after training.

Conclusions: The overground locomotor training program used in this pilot study is feasible and improved both overground walking speed and walking economy in a small sample of people with chronic cervical iSCI. Future studies are necessary to establish the efficacy of this overground locomotor training program and to differentiate among potential mechanisms contributing to enhanced walking performance in people with iSCI after overground locomotor training.