Publication Date
1-1-2023
Journal
The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine
Abstract
CONTEXT/OBJECTIVE: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in a significant loss of mobility and independence coinciding with reports of decreased quality of life (QOL), community participation, and medical complications often requiring re-hospitalization. Locomotor training (LT), the repetition of stepping-like patterning has shown beneficial effects for improving walking ability after motor incomplete SCI, but the potential impact of LT on psychosocial outcomes has not been well-established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate one year QOL, community participation and re-hospitalization outcomes between individuals who participated in a standardized LT program and those who received usual care (UC).
DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective (nested case/control) analysis was completed using SCI Model Systems (SCIMS) data comparing one year post-injury outcomes between individuals with traumatic motor incomplete SCI who participated in standardized LT to those who received UC.
OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes compared include the following: Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS™), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique-Short Form (CHART-SF™), and whether or not an individual was re-hospitalized during the first year of injury.
RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements for the LT group were found in the following outcomes: SWLS (P = 0.019); and CHART subscales [mobility (P =
CONCLUSION: Individuals who completed a standardized LT intervention reported greater improvements in satisfaction with life, community participation, and fewer re-hospitalizations at one year post-injury in comparison to those who received UC. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to verify these findings.
Keywords
Humans, Quality of Life, Spinal Cord Injuries, Retrospective Studies, Hospitalization
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Neurology Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Trauma Commons
Comments
PMID: 34612793