Article

People with spinal cord injury walk with a flexed trunk when using
reciprocating gait orthoses for walking. Reduction in trunk flexion during
ambulation has been shown to improve gait parameters for reciprocating gait
orthosis users.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect on
energy expenditure when spinal cord injury patients ambulate with an advanced
reciprocating gait orthosis while wearing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis to
provide trunk extension.
STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental study. METHODS: Four
patients with spinal cord injury were fitted with an advanced reciprocating gait
orthosis after completing a specific gait training program. Patients walked along
a flat walkway using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis as a control
condition and also while additionally wearing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis at
their self-selected walking speed. A stopwatch and a polar heart rate monitor
were used to measure walking speed and heart rate. RESULTS: Walking speed, the
distance walked, and the physiological cost index all improved when walking with
the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis/thoracolumbosacral orthosis test
condition compared to walking with no thoracolumbosacral orthosis in situ.
CONCLUSION: Spinal cord injury patients can improve their walking speed, walking
distance, and physiological cost index when wearing a thoracolumbosacral orthosis
in conjunction with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis, which may be
attributed to the trunk extension provided by the thoracolumbosacral orthosis.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: It is concluded that wearing thoracolumbosacral orthosis in
association with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis could be an effective
alternative in rehabilitation for thoracic level of paraplegic patients to
promote their health and well-being.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS