Abstract
Objective: To determine the tolerance to and benefits of an intensive mobility training (IMT) approach for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Design: Prospective pretest-posttest study with 6-month follow-up. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: A volunteer sample of individuals with ISCI (N=15; >6mo postinjury and able to walk at least 3.05m with or without assistance). Follow-up data were collected for 10 of the participants. Interventions: Participants received IMT for 3h/d for 10 weekdays, participating in activities that encouraged repetitive, task-specific training of their lower extremities in a massed practice schedule. Main Outcome Measures: Amount of time spent in therapeutic activities and rest was used to assess participants' tolerance to the intervention. Treatment outcomes were assessed pretest, posttest, and 6 months after the intervention and included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), 6-minute walk test, gait speed, and Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory. Results: Individuals in the higher functioning ISCI group (BBS score <45 and gait speed <0.6m/s) spent more time in the intensive therapy on average than individuals in the lower functioning ISCI group. Effect sizes were comparable for changes in balance and mobility assessments between the lower and higher functioning groups, with the largest effect sizes observed for the DGI. Conclusions: This dosage of IMT may be a more appropriate treatment approach for higher functioning ISCI individuals, as they were better able to tolerate the length of the session and demonstrated higher effect sizes postintervention.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1776-1784 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Volume | 92 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Gait
- Mobility limitation
- Postural balance
- Rehabilitation
- Spinal cord injuries
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Cite this
An intensive intervention for improving gait, balance, and mobility in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury : A pilot study of activity tolerance and benefits. / Fritz, Stacy L.; Merlo, Angela R; Rivers, Erin D.; Peters, Denise M.; Goodman, Ashley; Watson, Erin T.; Carmichael, Brooke M.; McClenaghan, Bruce A.
In: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 92, No. 11, 11.2011, p. 1776-1784.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An intensive intervention for improving gait, balance, and mobility in individuals with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury
T2 - A pilot study of activity tolerance and benefits
AU - Fritz, Stacy L.
AU - Merlo, Angela R
AU - Rivers, Erin D.
AU - Peters, Denise M.
AU - Goodman, Ashley
AU - Watson, Erin T.
AU - Carmichael, Brooke M.
AU - McClenaghan, Bruce A.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - Objective: To determine the tolerance to and benefits of an intensive mobility training (IMT) approach for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Design: Prospective pretest-posttest study with 6-month follow-up. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: A volunteer sample of individuals with ISCI (N=15; >6mo postinjury and able to walk at least 3.05m with or without assistance). Follow-up data were collected for 10 of the participants. Interventions: Participants received IMT for 3h/d for 10 weekdays, participating in activities that encouraged repetitive, task-specific training of their lower extremities in a massed practice schedule. Main Outcome Measures: Amount of time spent in therapeutic activities and rest was used to assess participants' tolerance to the intervention. Treatment outcomes were assessed pretest, posttest, and 6 months after the intervention and included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), 6-minute walk test, gait speed, and Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory. Results: Individuals in the higher functioning ISCI group (BBS score <45 and gait speed <0.6m/s) spent more time in the intensive therapy on average than individuals in the lower functioning ISCI group. Effect sizes were comparable for changes in balance and mobility assessments between the lower and higher functioning groups, with the largest effect sizes observed for the DGI. Conclusions: This dosage of IMT may be a more appropriate treatment approach for higher functioning ISCI individuals, as they were better able to tolerate the length of the session and demonstrated higher effect sizes postintervention.
AB - Objective: To determine the tolerance to and benefits of an intensive mobility training (IMT) approach for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Design: Prospective pretest-posttest study with 6-month follow-up. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: A volunteer sample of individuals with ISCI (N=15; >6mo postinjury and able to walk at least 3.05m with or without assistance). Follow-up data were collected for 10 of the participants. Interventions: Participants received IMT for 3h/d for 10 weekdays, participating in activities that encouraged repetitive, task-specific training of their lower extremities in a massed practice schedule. Main Outcome Measures: Amount of time spent in therapeutic activities and rest was used to assess participants' tolerance to the intervention. Treatment outcomes were assessed pretest, posttest, and 6 months after the intervention and included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), 6-minute walk test, gait speed, and Spinal Cord Injury Functional Ambulation Inventory. Results: Individuals in the higher functioning ISCI group (BBS score <45 and gait speed <0.6m/s) spent more time in the intensive therapy on average than individuals in the lower functioning ISCI group. Effect sizes were comparable for changes in balance and mobility assessments between the lower and higher functioning groups, with the largest effect sizes observed for the DGI. Conclusions: This dosage of IMT may be a more appropriate treatment approach for higher functioning ISCI individuals, as they were better able to tolerate the length of the session and demonstrated higher effect sizes postintervention.
KW - Gait
KW - Mobility limitation
KW - Postural balance
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Spinal cord injuries
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80055013119&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80055013119&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.05.006
DO - 10.1016/j.apmr.2011.05.006
M3 - Article
VL - 92
SP - 1776
EP - 1784
JO - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
SN - 0003-9993
IS - 11
ER -