Effects of Walking Training on Different Surfaces on Walking Ability in Ambulatory Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Khon Kaen University72 enrolled

Overview

The study compares effects of 4-week walking training program on a walking track with difference surface \[WTDS\] and a firm ground on functional ability of ambulatory individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury \[iSCI\], using within- and between-group comparisons.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries Rehabilitation

Interventions

Rehabilitation therapyOTHER

Subjects are trained to walk overground (control) or over WTDS (experimental) for 5 days/week over 4 week. Then they will be monthly follow-up for fall data.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age at least 18 years 2. Having an incomplete SCI (the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale or AIS C or D) (Kirshblum et al., 2011) 3. At a sub-acute or chronic stage of injury (post injury time: PIT \> 3 months) (Wirth et al., 2008; Blackwell et al., 2001) 4. Able to walk with or without a walking device for at least 10m (Behrman et al., 2005; Lam et al., 2008; Jackson et al., 2008) 5. Having a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2 (Woo et al., 2007) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Having an SCI from a progressive disease such as multiple sclerosis or malignancy 2. Having other medical conditions that might affect ambulatory ability, such as pain in the musculoskeletal system with an intensity of pain more than 5 out of 10 on a numeric rating pain scale (Dijkers, 2010), deformities of the spine and lower extremities (i.e. scoliosis, kyphosis, and equinovarus) and other neurological or other medical disorders (thromboembolism, autonomic dysreflexia). 3. Severe spasticity of the lower extremities (Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) more than 2) (Bohannon \& Smith, 1987; Scivoletto et al., 2008).

Locations (1)

Srinagarind hospital

Khon Kaen, Thailand

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

10-meter walk test (10MWT)

Subjects walk at a comfortable pace along a 10m walkway. The test records the time use over the middle 4m of the walkway in order to minimize acceleration and deceleration effects. Then the average time over the 3 trials is converted to walking speed using the formula v=distance (m) /time (s)

Time frame: Change over 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Timed up and go test (TUGT)

Subjects stand up from a standard armchair, walk around a traffic cone that is located 3m away from the chair, and return to sit down on the chair at a maximum and safe speed. The test records the time taken from the command "Go" until the subject's back against the backrest of the chair. Then the average times finding over the 3 trials is used for data analysis.

Time frame: Change over 4 weeks

Five times sit-to-stand test (FTSST)

The time taken to complete 5 chair-rise cycles at a fastest and safe speed is measured for each subject. Then the average time over the 3 trials is used for data analysis.

Time frame: Change over 4 weeks

6-minute walk test (6MWT)

Subjects walk along a rectangular walkway as long as possible in 6 minutes. Every minute during the test, they are informed the time left and encouraged to continue in a good manner. Subjects are able to take a period of rest as needed and continued walking as soon as they can. The distance covered after 6 minutes are recorded

Time frame: Change over 4 weeks

Incidence of fall

Then subject will be monthly monitored for the fall data during 6 months using a fall diary and telephone.

Time frame: Six months after completing the training program.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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