Walking and Balance Outcomes Are Improved Following Brief Intensive Locomotor Skill Training but Are Not Augmented by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Persons With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Motor training to improve walking and balance function is a common aspect of rehabilitation following motor-incomplete spinal cord injury (MISCI). Evidence suggests that moderate- to high-intensity exercise facilitates neuroplastic mechanisms that support motor skill acquisition and learning. Furthermore, enhancing corticospinal drive via transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may augment the effects of motor training. In this pilot study, we investigated whether a brief moderate-intensity locomotor-related motor skill training (MST) circuit, with and without tDCS, improved walking and balance outcomes in persons with MISCI. In addition, we examined potential differences between within-day (online) and between-day (offline) effects of MST. Twenty-six adults with chronic MISCI, who had some walking ability, were enrolled in a 5-day double-blind, randomized study with a 3-day intervention period. Participants were assigned to an intensive locomotor MST circuit and concurrent application of either sham tDCS (MST+tDCSsham) or active tDCS (MST+tDCS). The primary outcome was overground walking speed measured during the 10-meter walk test. Secondary outcomes included spatiotemporal gait characteristics (cadence and stride length), peak trailing limb angle (TLA), intralimb coordination (ACC), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) questionnaire. Analyses revealed a significant effect of the MST circuit, with improvements in walking speed, cadence, bilateral stride length, stronger limb TLA, weaker limb ACC, BBS, and FES-I observed in both the MST+tDCSsham and MST+tDCS groups. No differences in outcomes were observed between groups. Between-day change accounted for a greater percentage of the overall change in walking outcomes. In persons with MISCI, brief intensive MST involving a circuit of ballistic, cyclic locomotor-related skill activities improved walking outcomes, and selected strength and balance outcomes; however, concurrent application of tDCS did not further enhance the effects of MST.Clinical Trial Registration[ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT03237234].

Gait Recovery in Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review with Metanalysis Involving New Rehabilitative Technologies

“…One of these studies evaluated the use of such devices associated with electromyography (EMG) feedback [36] (n = 1) (3DCaLT), and two evaluated overground exoskeletons [18,37] (n = 2) (Ekso). In the second group, we included studies assessing the use of intermittent hypoxia (IH) vs. normoxia (NX) during traditional gait training [38,39] or during suspension treadmill training [40] (BWSTT) (n = 3).The third group included studies that used magnetic [41][42][43] (n = 3) (TMS) or electrical [44,45] (n = 2) (tDCS) external stimulation during robotic or conventional rehabilitation. The improvements in the kinematic and kinetic parameters of the ankle voluntary movement, and their correlation with the functional assessments, support the therapeutic effect of robotic-assisted locomotor training on motor impairment in chronic iSCI After a preliminary data analysis, authors agreed to investigate studies with different approaches due to a lack of data to perform a full metanalysis.…”

Rehabilitation Training after Spinal Cord Injury Affects Brain Structure and Function: From Mechanisms to Methods

“…Aerobic exercise mainly refers to dynamic exercise that relies on aerobic metabolism to promote muscle contraction and the exercise of large muscle groups, including jogging, cycling, and swimming. Aerobic exercise can improve walking and balance function in patients with SCI [137]. It can also improve cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling to promote changes in brain structure and function [138].…”