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Walia S, Kumar P, Kataria C. Interventions to Improve Standing Balance in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2023; 29:56-83. [PMID: 37235196 PMCID: PMC10208260 DOI: 10.46292/sci21-00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) often results in impaired balance leading to functional impairments. Recovery of standing balance ability is an important aim of rehabilitative programs. However, limited information is available on effective balance training protocols for individuals with iSCI. Objectives To assess the methodological quality and effectiveness of various rehabilitation interventions for improving standing balance in individuals with iSCI. Methods A systematic search was performed in SCOPUS, PEDro, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception until March 2021. Two independent reviewers screened articles for inclusion, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of the trials. PEDro Scale was used to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) and crossover studies while pre-post trials were assessed using the modified Downs and Black tool. A meta-analysis was performed to quantitatively describe the results. The random effects model was applied to present the pooled effect. Results Ten RCTs with a total of 222 participants and 15 pre-post trials with 967 participants were analyzed. The mean PEDro score and modified Downs and Black score was 7/10 and 6/9, respectively. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for controlled and uncontrolled trials of body weight-supported training (BWST) interventions was -0.26 (95% CI, -0.70 to 0.18; p = .25) and 0.46 (95% CI, 0.33 to 0.59; p < .001), respectively. The pooled effect size of -0.98 (95% CI, -1.93 to -0.03; p = .04) indicated significant improvements in balance after a combination of BWST and stimulation. Pre-post studies analyzing the effect of virtual reality (VR) training interventions on Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores in individuals with iSCI reported a mean difference (MD) of 4.22 (95% CI, 1.78 to 6.66; p = .0007). Small effect sizes were seen in pre-post studies of VR+stimulation and aerobic exercise training interventions indicating no significant improvements after training on standing balance measures. Conclusion This study demonstrated weak evidence to support the use of BWST interventions for overground training for balance rehabilitation in individuals with iSCI. A combination of BWST with stimulation however showed promising results. There is a need for further RCTs in this field to generalize findings. Virtual reality-based balance training has shown significant improvement in standing balance post iSCI. However, these results are based on single group pre-post trials and lack appropriately powered RCTs involving a larger sample size to support this intervention. Given the importance of balance control underpinning all aspects of daily activities, there is a need for further well-designed and appropriately powered RCTs to evaluate specific features of training interventions to improve standing balance function in iSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Walia
- Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, India
| | - Pragya Kumar
- Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Li R, Ding M, Wang J, Pan H, Sun X, Huang L, Fu C, He C, Wei Q. Effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training on cardiopulmonary fitness and exercise capacity for incomplete spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Rehabil 2023; 37:312-329. [PMID: 36373899 DOI: 10.1177/02692155221133474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of robotic-assisted gait training on cardiopulmonary fitness and exercise capacity for people with incomplete spinal cord injury. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PEDro, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched from inception until September 4, 2022. Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of robotic-assisted gait training on cardiopulmonary fitness and exercise capacity for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury were selected. Mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The methodological quality was evaluated by the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the time since injury. RESULTS In total 19 studies involving 770 patients were eligible for analysis. Individuals with acute incomplete spinal cord injury in robotic-assisted gait training groups showed significantly greater improvements in 6-minute walking test (MD 53.32; 95% CI 33.49 to 73.15; P < 0.001), lower extremity motor scale (MD 5.22; 95% CI 3.63 to 6.80; P < 0.001) and walking index for spinal cord injury II (MD 3.18; 95% CI 1.34 to 5.02; P < 0.001). Robotic-assisted gait training improved peak oxygen consumption to a greater degree for chronic incomplete spinal cord injury patients (MD 4.90; 95% CI 0.96 to 8.84; P = 0.01). CONCLUSION Robot-assisted gait training may be a feasible and effective intervention in terms of cardiopulmonary fitness and exercise capacity for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingfu Ding
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongxia Pan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Sun
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyi Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenying Fu
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, 34753West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.,Aging and Geriatric Mechanism Laboratory, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengqi He
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan Wei
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, 12530Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
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Evans NH, Suri C, Field-Fote EC. Walking and Balance Outcomes Are Improved Following Brief Intensive Locomotor Skill Training but Are Not Augmented by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Persons With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:849297. [PMID: 35634208 PMCID: PMC9130633 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.849297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor training to improve walking and balance function is a common aspect of rehabilitation following motor-incomplete spinal cord injury (MISCI). Evidence suggests that moderate- to high-intensity exercise facilitates neuroplastic mechanisms that support motor skill acquisition and learning. Furthermore, enhancing corticospinal drive via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may augment the effects of motor training. In this pilot study, we investigated whether a brief moderate-intensity locomotor-related motor skill training (MST) circuit, with and without tDCS, improved walking and balance outcomes in persons with MISCI. In addition, we examined potential differences between within-day (online) and between-day (offline) effects of MST. Twenty-six adults with chronic MISCI, who had some walking ability, were enrolled in a 5-day double-blind, randomized study with a 3-day intervention period. Participants were assigned to an intensive locomotor MST circuit and concurrent application of either sham tDCS (MST+tDCSsham) or active tDCS (MST+tDCS). The primary outcome was overground walking speed measured during the 10-meter walk test. Secondary outcomes included spatiotemporal gait characteristics (cadence and stride length), peak trailing limb angle (TLA), intralimb coordination (ACC), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) questionnaire. Analyses revealed a significant effect of the MST circuit, with improvements in walking speed, cadence, bilateral stride length, stronger limb TLA, weaker limb ACC, BBS, and FES-I observed in both the MST+tDCSsham and MST+tDCS groups. No differences in outcomes were observed between groups. Between-day change accounted for a greater percentage of the overall change in walking outcomes. In persons with MISCI, brief intensive MST involving a circuit of ballistic, cyclic locomotor-related skill activities improved walking outcomes, and selected strength and balance outcomes; however, concurrent application of tDCS did not further enhance the effects of MST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas H. Evans
- Shepherd Center, Crawford Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Cazmon Suri
- Shepherd Center, Crawford Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Edelle C. Field-Fote
- Shepherd Center, Crawford Research Institute, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- *Correspondence: Edelle C. Field-Fote,
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Xiang XN, Zong HY, Ou Y, Yu X, Cheng H, Du CP, He HC. Exoskeleton-assisted walking improves pulmonary function and walking parameters among individuals with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021; 18:86. [PMID: 34030720 PMCID: PMC8146689 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00880-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) is expected to improve the gait of spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals. However, few studies reported the changes of pulmonary function (PF) parameters after EAW trainings. Hence, we aimed to explore the effect of EAW on PF parameters, 6-min walk test (6MWT) and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) in individuals with SCI and to compare those with conventional trainings. METHODS In this prospective, single-center, single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study, 18 SCI participants were randomized into the EAW group (n = 9) and conventional group (n = 9) and received 16 sessions of 50-60 min training (4 days/week, 4 weeks). Pulmonary function parameters consisting of the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced expiratory flow (FEF), peak expiratory flow, and maximal voluntary ventilation, 6MWT with assisted devices and LEMS were reported pre- and post-training. RESULTS Values of FVC (p = 0.041), predicted FVC% (p = 0.012) and FEV1 (p = 0.013) were significantly greater in EAW group (FVC: 3.8 ± 1.1 L; FVC% pred = 94.1 ± 24.5%; FEV1: 3.5 ± 1.0 L) compared with conventional group (FVC: 2.8 ± 0.8 L; FVC% pred = 65.4 ± 17.6%; FEV1: 2.4 ± 0.6 L) after training. Participants in EAW group completed 6MWT with median 17.3 m while wearing the exoskeleton. There was no difference in LEMS and no adverse event. CONCLUSIONS The current results suggest that EAW has potential benefits to facilitate PF parameters among individuals with lower thoracic neurological level of SCI compared with conventional trainings. Additionally, robotic exoskeleton helped walking. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered on 22 May 2020 at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000033166). http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=53920&htm=4 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Na Xiang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,School of Rehabilitation Sciences, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Yan Zong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Ou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.,School of Rehabilitation Sciences, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Cheng
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun-Ping Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hong-Chen He
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. .,School of Rehabilitation Sciences, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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Unger J, Chan K, Lee JW, Craven BC, Mansfield A, Alavinia M, Masani K, Musselman KE. The Effect of Perturbation-Based Balance Training and Conventional Intensive Balance Training on Reactive Stepping Ability in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury or Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Neurol 2021; 12:620367. [PMID: 33603710 PMCID: PMC7884853 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.620367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Impaired balance leads to falls in individuals with motor incomplete spinal cord injury or disease (iSCI/D). Reactive stepping is a strategy used to prevent falls and Perturbation-based Balance Training (PBT) can improve this ability. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if PBT results in greater improvements in reactive stepping ability than frequency-matched Conventional Intensive Balance Training (CIBT) in adults with iSCI/D. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Tertiary SCI/D rehabilitation center. Participants: Twenty-one adults with chronic (>1 year) iSCI/D were randomized. Due to one drop out 20 participants completed the study. Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to complete either PBT or CIBT three times per week for 8 weeks. Both programs included challenging static and dynamic balance tasks, but the PBT group also experienced manual external balance perturbations. Main Outcome Measures: Assessments of reactive stepping ability using the Lean-and-Release test were completed at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks of training, and 3 and 6 months after training completion. A blinded assessor evaluated secondary outcomes. Results: Twenty-five participants were screened and 21 consented; one withdrew. Ten PBT and 10 CIBT participants were included in analyses. Across all participants there were improvements in reactive stepping ability (p = 0.049), with retention of improvements at follow up assessments. There were no differences in reactive stepping ability between groups [median (interquartile range): PBT 0.08 (0.68); CIBT 0.00 (0.22)]. One participant in the PBT group experienced a non-injurious fall during training. Conclusions: Balance training is beneficial for individuals with iSCI/D, but the addition of manual perturbations (i.e., PBT) did not prove advantageous for performance on a measure of reactive stepping ability. Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02960178.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle Unger
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine Chan
- KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jae W Lee
- KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - B Catharine Craven
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Avril Mansfield
- KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Evaluative Clinical Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad Alavinia
- KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kei Masani
- KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kristin E Musselman
- Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,KITE at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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