Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Cheongju University, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Daejeon University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Duck-Won Oh, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Cheongju University, 298 Daeseongro, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea 360 764. Tel.: +82 43 229 8679; Fax.: +82 43 229 8969; E-mail: odduck@cju.ac.kr
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.
