Effects of an Early Wheelchair Reconditionong Program on Functional Independence in Spinal Cord-inured Individuals

Inclusion Criteria: * Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) from trauma , medical or surgical pathology at levels between C7 and L1. * Categories A or B as defined by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale * Male or female * 18 to 60 years old. * No ability to walk independently with or without an assistive device * 3 to 6 months post-SCI in early phase of rehabilitation in a physical medicine and rehabilitation unit. * Subject affiliated to a social security regime and registered at the healthcare department * Written informed consent obtained from each subject Exclusion Criteria: * Symptomatic syringomyelia that may complicate the evaluation procedures * Disabled pathology before the SCI * Cardiopulmonary disease, degenerative disorders, upper limb disorders, bones inury or other significant medical complications that would prohibit or alter compliance with a wheelchair training protocol. * Psychological incapacity to follow a training protocol during 8 weeks. * Surgery or intrathecal injection planned. * Reject to give written informed consent.