Enhancement of locomotor recovery following spinal cord injury.

Recent advances have been made in new experimental approaches to enhance locomotor recovery in spinal cord-injured subjects. Research in adult animals whose spinal cords have been transected (spinal animals) has focused particularly on locomotor recovery and the use of pharmacological tools to trigger and modulate the locomotor pattern. This provides a rational basis for the rehabilitation and pharmacotherapy of locomotion in spinal cord-injured patients. Findings in the field of locomotor training, locomotor pharmacotherapy, and functional electrical stimulation are reviewed. It is argued that a combination of the various approaches will provide an optimal base for functional locomotor recovery.