Locomotor training progression and outcomes after incomplete spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The use of locomotor training with a body-weight-support system and treadmill (BWST) and manual assistance has increased in rehabilitation. The purpose of this case report is to describe the process for retraining walking in a person with an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) using the BWST and transferring skills from the BWST to overground assessment and community ambulation.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Following discharge from rehabilitation, a man with an incomplete SCI at C5-6 and an American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale classification of D participated in 45 sessions of locomotor training.

OUTCOMES: Walking speed and independence improved from 0.19 m/s as a home ambulator using a rolling walker and a right ankle-foot orthosis to 1.01 m/s as a full-time ambulator using a cane only for community mobility. Walking activity (mean+/-SD) per 24 hours increased from 1,054+/-543 steps to 3,924+/-1,629 steps.

DISCUSSION: In a person with an incomplete SCI, walking ability improved after locomotor training that used a decision-making algorithm and progression across training environments.