Frontiers in Physiology, 2012 · DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00258 · Published: July 18, 2012
This study investigates how different types of locomotor training affect spasticity, gait, and reflex components in rats with spinal cord injuries. Rats were divided into control, treadmill-trained, and cycle-trained groups, with training starting eight days post-injury. The study measured ankle torque, EMG activity, and locomotor abilities over several weeks. The results showed that both treadmill and cycle training reduced spasticity and improved locomotion compared to the untrained control group. The researchers also found improved tissue preservation and changes in neurochemicals in the trained animals.
Ergonomically practical cycle training can be translated into clinical use for treating human SCI patients in both clinic and home settings.
The findings support the use of locomotor training regimens, such as treadmill or cycle training, to promote walking recovery by optimizing activity-dependent neuroplasticity.
Locomotor training-induced plasticity may up-regulate GABAb receptor and NE mediated inhibition which in turn result in improvement of reflex excitability.