An outpatient low-intensity locomotor training programme for paediatric chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

Study design: Single case study. Objectives: Intensive locomotor training programmes have recently been implemented in paediatric settings for patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. This case study examines whether a lower-intensity locomotor training programme can improve functional ambulation. Setting: Tertiary care setting in Melbourne, Australia. Methods: A pretest-post-test design was used for a 17-year-old boy, 16 months after incomplete spinal injury at T6, who was classified as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) level C. He participated in two weekly sessions of locomotor training for a period of 6 weeks. Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI II), 6-min walk test (6MWT), 10-m walk test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and the PedsQL were measured before training, immediately after training and 6 weeks after training had ceased. Results: The WISCI II score improved from 6 at baseline to 9 immediately post treatment and this was maintained at follow-up. The PedsQL score was also significantly improved immediately post treatment and at 6 weeks follow-up. The LEMS and 6MWT improved after the intervention also. Conclusion: This case study provides evidence of improvements following a less-intensive locomotor training programme in an outpatient setting. Studies with larger samples are required to fully examine the benefits of this programme.