Body weight-supported treadmill training in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury: a pilot study evaluating functional health status and quality of life.

STUDY DESIGN

A controlled single-case design: A1 (baseline: 6 weeks), B (intervention: 12 weeks of treadmill training (TT), maximally five times a week/30 min a day), A2 (wash-out: 6 weeks), follow-up measurement: 6 months.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of TT on functional health status (FHS) and quality of life (QoL) in subjects with a chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI).

SETTING

Rehabilitation Department, University Medical Centre Utrecht, The Netherlands.

METHODS

Three male subjects with a stable (>48 months postinjury) ISCI, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) class C (n=2) and D (n=1). Performance-based walking, subject's perception concerning quality of life (SEIQoL) and activities of daily living Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

RESULTS

The results of the three subjects were variable. Changes in QoL were relatively small and diverse. After 6 months' follow-up, QoL was unchanged in subjects 1 and 2, and improved in subject 3. In subject 2, performance of activities of daily living (ADL) was significantly improved, consistent with his perception of improvement (P<0.05), and this improvement was sustained throughout the follow-up period. Walking ability improved in subject 3 (P<0.05) but performance of other activities remained stable. Performance of ADL decreased slightly in subject 1 whereas his walking speed and Get up and Go performance improved (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates positive effects of TT on FHS. A randomised clinical trial should be executed before definite conclusions about the effect of TT on FHS and QoL can be drawn.

SPONSORSHIP

KF Hein Foundation and Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat Scientific Foundation.