Immediate Effects of Stepping Training Using External Feedback in Spinal Cord Injury Patients

Immediate Effects of Stepping Training With or Without External Feedback on Walking and Functional Ability in Ambulatory Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

• Does stepping training with or without external feedback change functional ability of ambulatory patients with iSCI immediately after training?
• Are there significant differences between the immediate effects of stepping training with or without external feedback in ambulatory patients with iSCI?

To compare immediate effects of stepping training with or without the utility of external feedback on functional ability relating to walking in ambulatory patients with iSCI (between-group comparison).

Secondary objective To compare immediate effects in a group of stepping training with or without the utility of external feedback on functional ability relating to walking in ambulatory patients with iSCI (within-group comparison).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Independent ambulatory patients with iSCI at a chronic stage (Post-injury time > 12 months)
• Traumatic cause or non-progressive disease
• Independent walking with or without assistive devices at least 17 meters (Functional Independence Measure Locomotor (FIM-L) scores 5-7)
• Age at least 18 years
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 - 29.9 kg/m2.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any conditions or disorders that might affect ability to participate in the study and/or ambulatory ability of the subjects such as

  • Brain function disorders
  • Visual deficits that cannot be corrected using glasses or contact lens
  • Musculoskeletal pain (with an intensity of pain more than 5 out of 10 on a numerical rating pain scale)
  • Deformity of the musculoskeletal system
  • Unable to follow a command of the tests
  • Unstable medical conditions
  • Color blindness