Article

The aim of the study was to determine whether the integration of
dynamic weight shifting into treadmill training would improve the efficacy of
treadmill training in humans with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Sixteen humans with
spinal cord injury were randomly assigned to receive robotic or treadmill-only
training and underwent 6 wks of training. A force was applied to the pelvis for
facilitating weight shifting and to the legs for assisting with leg swing for
participants in the robotic group. No assistance force was applied for
participants in the treadmill-only group. Outcome measures consisted of
overground walking speed, 6-min walking distance, and other clinical measures and
were assessed before, after 6 wks of training, and 8 wks after the end of
training. RESULTS: A greater improvement in 6-min walking distance was observed
after robotic training than that after treadmill-only training
(P = 0.03), but
there was not a significant difference between the two groups in improvements in
walking speed. However, a greater improvement was observed for the participants
who underwent robotic training than those who underwent treadmill-only training
(i.e., 15% vs. 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Applying a pelvis assistance force for
facilitating weight shifting during treadmill training may improve locomotor function in humans with spinal cord injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS