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Robotic-Assisted Locomotor Training Enhances Ankle Performance in Adults With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Publisher Pubmed



Krishnan V1 ; Kindig M3 ; Mirbagheri MM2, 3, 4
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Long Beach, CA, United States
  2. 2. Department of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  3. 3. Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, United States
  4. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sensory Motor Performance Program, Northwestern University, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 60611, IL, United States

Source: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Published:2016


Abstract

Objective: Ankle joint control plays an important role in independent walking. This study investigated the effects of robotic-assisted locomotor training on impaired ankle joint control in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. Methods: Sixteen individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury underwent 12 one-h sessions of robotic-assisted locomotor training for 4 weeks, while 16 individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury served as inactive controls. Changes in ankle control measures, torque and co-activation were evaluated during maximal voluntary contractions in dorsi- and plantar-flexion. Changes in walking performance measures using Timed Up and Go (TUG), 10-m walk (10MWT) and 6-min walk (6MWT) tests were evaluated at 2 time points: baseline and after 4 weeks. Results: Maximal voluntary contractions torque during both dorsi- and plantar-flexion contractions improved markedly in the robotic-assisted locomotor training group compared with baseline. Furthermore, after the training, co-activation during the dorsi-flexion maximal voluntary contractions decreased in the training group compared with controls. In addition, the training group significantly improved walking mobility (TUG) and speed (10MWT) compared with baseline. Finally, correlation analysis indicated a significant linear relationship between maximal voluntary contraction torques and walking performance measures. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that robotic-assisted locomotor training improves ankle joint control, which may translate into enhanced walking performance in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. © 2016 The Authors.
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