Investigation of robotic-assisted tilt-table therapy for early-stage spinal cord injury rehabilitation

Craven, C. T.D., Gollee, H. , Coupaud, S., Purcell, M. A. and Allan, D. B. (2013) Investigation of robotic-assisted tilt-table therapy for early-stage spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 50(3), p. 367. (doi: 10.1682/JRRD.2012.02.0027)

Abstract

Damage to the spinal cord compromises motor function and sensation below the level of injury, resulting in paralysis and progressive secondary health complications. Inactivity and reduced energy requirements result in reduced cardiopulmonary fitness and an increased risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular complications. These risks may be minimized through regular physical activity. It is proposed that such activity should begin at the earliest possible time point after injury, before extensive neuromuscular degeneration has occurred. Robotic-assisted tilt-table therapy may be used during early-stage spinal cord injury (SCI) to facilitate stepping training, before orthostatic stability has been achieved. This study investigates whether such a stimulus may be used to maintain pulmonary and coronary health by describing the acute responses of patients with early-stage (<1 yr) motor-complete SCI (cSCI) and motor-incomplete SCI (iSCI) to passive, active, and electrically stimulated robotic-assisted stepping. Active participation was found to elicit an increased response from iSCI patients. The addition of electrical stimulation did not consistently elicit further increases. Extensive muscle atrophy was found to have occurred in those patients with cSCI, thereby limiting the potential effectiveness of electrical stimulation. Active participation in robotic-assisted tilt-table therapy may be used to improve cardiopulmonary fitness in iSCI patients if implemented as part of a regular training program.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gollee, Dr Henrik and Craven, Dr Colm and Coupaud, Dr Sylvie
• Authors: Craven, C. T.D., Gollee, H., Coupaud, S., Purcell, M. A., and Allan, D. B.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
• Journal Abbr.: JRRD
• Publisher: Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs
• ISSN: 0748-7711
• ISSN (Online): 1938-1352
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2014 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 50(3):367-377
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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