An overview of Locomotor Training for Spinal Cord Injury
Locomotor training for spinal cord injury is a type of activity-based therapy designed to help individuals recover their walking abilities and improve lower extremity function. This therapy involves challenged practice and lower extremity weight bearing, aiming to promote the neural plasticity necessary for the brain to reorganize and recover lost or impaired motor function.
What is Locomotor Training for Spinal Cord Injury used for?
Locomotor training for spinal cord injury is an activity-based therapy aimed at helping individuals recover walking movements and improve lower extremity weight bearing. It is designed for people who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction, and can benefit those who are experiencing impaired movement and sensations, difficulty walking, or difficulty participating in daily living activities. Locomotor training devices and techniques may include body-weight-support overground training, functional electrical stimulation, or the use of a robot-assisted body-weight-support treadmill system (Lokomat), among others.
How is Locomotor Training for Spinal Cord Injury conducted?
Locomotor training for spinal cord injury involves challenged practice and lower extremity weight bearing to help improve and recover walking movement. Different devices and techniques may be used, such as robot-assisted body-weight-support treadmill system (Lokomat), body-weight-support treadmill training, body-weight-support overground training, and functional electrical stimulation. These methods are designed to help individuals recover their locomotor abilities, which may include impaired movement and sensations, difficulty walking, and difficulty participating in daily living activities.
Understanding the report
The interpretation of the results of locomotor training for spinal cord injury depends on several factors, including the individual's baseline condition and specific goals. The outcomes of locomotor training can be measured through various means, such as changes in walking speed, distance, and endurance, improvements in balance and gait, and reductions in assistance or device dependence. The interpretation of these results will be based on the therapist's assessment and the individual's progress. The results may be compared against the initial assessment, as well as against established standards or benchmarks for individuals with spinal cord injuries. It is important to note that the interpretation of the results is not solely based on numerical values or measurements. Subjective feedback from the individual and their caregivers, as well as qualitative observations of their overall functional abilities and quality of life, also contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the locomotor training.