Improvement of locomotor function in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury with antigravity treadmill: A case report

Abstract

Introduction: Access to safe and effective weight bearing exercise for spinal cord injury patients is a challenge. The objective of this case report is to highlight the potential use of an antigravity treadmill for improvement in locomotor function (gait speed and endurance) in two individuals with lower thoracic level, chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Case Series: Two young male patients, with lower thoracic level chronic iSCI underwent gait training in an anti-gravity treadmill. The 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) were used as outcome measures of the pre- and post-anti-gravity treadmill training period. Both participants showed improvement in the minimal clinically important difference in the 10MWT and the 6MWT. However only one of them met the minimal detectable change criteria for chronic iSCI. Our results are indicative but not conclusive of improvement in gait speed and endurance in chronic iSCI. Conclusion: This case series demonstrates the potential use of the anti-gravity treadmill in improvement of locomotor performance in terms of gait speed and endurance in addition to providing a fall safe exercise environment for exercise benefitting individuals with iSCI.