Gait Training in Acute Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation-Utilization and Outcomes Among Nonambulatory Individuals: Findings From the SCIRehab Project.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relation of gait training (GT) during inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) to outcomes of people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Prospective observational study using the SCIRehab database.

SETTING

Six IPR facilities.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with new SCI (N=1376) receiving initial rehabilitation.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were divided into groups consisting of those who did and did not receive GT. Patients were further subdivided based on their primary mode of mobility as measured by the FIM.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pain rating scales, Patient Health Questionnaire Mood Subscale, Satisfaction With Life Scale, and Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART).

RESULTS

Nearly 58% of all patients received GT, including 33.3% of patients who were primarily using a wheelchair 1 year after discharge from IPR. Those who used a wheelchair and received GT, received significantly less transfer and wheeled mobility training (P<.001). CHART physical independence (P=.002), mobility (P=.024), and occupation (P=.003) scores were significantly worse in patients who used a wheelchair at 1 year and received GT, compared with those who used a wheelchair and did not receive GT in IPR. Older age was also a significant predictor of worse participation as measured by the CHART.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant percentage of individuals who are not likely to become functional ambulators are spending portions of their IPR stays performing GT, which is associated with less time allotted for other functional interventions. GT in IPR was also associated with participation deficits at 1 year for those who used a wheelchair, implying the potential consequences of opportunity costs, pain, and psychological difficulties of receiving unsuccessful GT. Clinicians should consider these data when deciding to implement GT during initial IPR.