Does Movement Training Enable Patients with Complete Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Injury to Walk? A Preliminary Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Jalil Arabkheradmand 1
Mohsen Ghassami 2
Mahsa Asheghan 3
Parisa Rashidzadeh 4
Sohrab Hashemi Fesharaki 5
Mohammad Taghi Holisaz 6
Mina Arab Baniasad 7
Soghrat Faghihzadeh 8
Rashid Zargari Marandi 6
1 Defense Health Research Center, Tehran, Iran
2 Occupational Therapist Rehabilitation Hiva Rehabilitation Center, Tehran, Iran
3 Khatam al-Anbia Hospital in Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4 Rehabilitation Research & Development, Department of Red Crescent Society of Iran, Tehran, Iran
5 Epilepsy Comprehensive Group, Pars Hospital, Tehran, Iran
6 Baqyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 Mechanical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
8 Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS), Zanjan, Iran
10.30491/jcm.2023.177994
Abstract
Background and Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential benefits of motor training in patients with complete thoracolumbar spinal cord injury.
Methods: In an outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic in Tehran, a preliminary clinical trial was conducted on an available sample. Twenty-five patients with complete spinal cord injury were included in this study. All patients were paraplegic and complete spinal cord injury was proven for them by para clinical methods. All patients participated in a comprehensive rehabilitation training program that was personalized. This program included a combination of the Swiss ball and the use of ankle orthosis, as well as ankle and knee long leg orthosis and the use of a parallel bar.
Results: Fourteen of the participants were men and 11 were women. The age of the participants was between 19 and 52 years with an average of 31.54 years. Gait information, somatosensory evoked potential response and magnet motor evoked potential were recorded from all of them. Our study showed that individualized exercise program enables patients with complete spinal cord injury to move. After receiving movement intervention, the patients were able to walk and continued.
Conclusion: Movement training can stimulate the production of response in complete spinal cord injury. At the same time, motor training does not improve neurological deficits in patients with complete spinal cord injury.
Keywords
Spinal Cord Injury
Thoracolumbar
Movement Training

  • Receive Date 22 October 2022
  • Revise Date 10 November 2022
  • Accept Date 20 November 2022