Abstract
Purpose:
This study aimed to describe a community-based ambulation training for ambulatory patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and then to report the results of the training.
Method:
Four patients with incomplete SCI participated in this study. The indoor and outdoor walking function was assessed at four intervals: pre-training, post-training, and at 4-week and 1-year follow-ups after successful completion of the community-based ambulation training. Training consisted of the four-staged ambulation protocol with weekly-increased environmental demands, which consisted of 1-hour sessions six times a week for a 4-week period (i.e., a total of 24 sessions).
Results:
The walking function of all patients was remarkably improved after the training, and these effects were favorably maintained at the 4-week and 1-year follow-ups.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that the use of community-based ambulation training is a beneficial therapeutic option to improve the walking function of ambulatory patients with incomplete SCI and to offer better opportunities for reintegration into community life.