Gait re-education with Lokomat System in incomplete spinal cord injury in patients older than 65

• Main Author: Alcobendas, Monica
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Morressier 01.01.2017
• DOI: 10.26226/morressier.5ab4d4eed462b80296ca4d25

Introduction: Incidence of spinal cord injury in patients older than 65 is increasing. Non traumatic etiology and incomplete lesions are very frequent. General treatment programs are hardly completed in these patients, and worse functional results are usually achieved.Objective: To determinate effectiveness of Lokomat System (LS) in the gait re-education in patients older than 65 with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). Method: A prospective and comparative study before and after treatment with LS (40 sessions, 30 minutes, 5 days per week) in patients diagnosed of ISCI admitted in authorsu00b4 institution for less than 6 months has been undertaken. Outcome measures employed were: Demographic and lesion data, lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS), SCIM II (Spinal cord independence measure) and WISCI II (Walking Index Spinal Cord Injury) scales. Results: 49 patients met inclusion criteria. 5 cases were lost of follow-up. 32 patients were male, 16 were cervical lesions and 42 were motor ISCI. Mean age was 70. Significant improvement of every analysed variable was found after treatment with LS. The best results were reported in patients that started their treatment in the first 3 months after lesion. No significant treatment complications have been reported. Conclusions: Patients older than 65 diagnosed of ISCI are able to complete a gait training program with LS, improving their muscle strength, gait capacity and independence. Probably, basal physical condition and chronic pathologies, frequently associated, are the most important determinants in the low rate found in functional scales.