Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of body weight-supported gait training on
restoration of walking, activities of daily living, and quality of life in
persons with an incomplete spinal cord injury by a systematic review of the
literature. METHODS: Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, DocOnline were
searched and identified studies were assessed for eligibility and methodological
quality and described regarding population, training protocol, and effects on
walking ability, activities of daily living and quality of life. A descriptive
and quantitative synthesis was conducted. RESULTS: Eighteen articles (17 studies)
were included. Two randomized controlled trials showed that subjects with
injuries of less than one year duration reached higher scores on the locomotor
item of the Functional Independence Measure (range 1-7) in the over-ground
training group compared with the body weight-supported treadmill training group.
Only for persons with an American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale C or
D was the mean difference significant, with 0.80 (95% confidence interval
0.04-1.56). No differences were found regarding walking velocity, activities of
daily living or quality of life. CONCLUSION: Subjects with subacute motor
incomplete spinal cord injury reached a higher level of independent walking after
over-ground training, compared with body weight-supported treadmill training.
More randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the effectiveness of body
weight-supported gait training on walking, activities of daily living, and quality of life for subgroups of persons with an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS