Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-019-0231-7 · Published: September 28, 2019
This case series explores how walking in water affects the start of walking (gait initiation) for people with incomplete spinal cord injuries (iSCI). It looks at factors like balance, movement, and how safe the participants feel. Five participants with iSCI walked both on land and in a pool while measurements were taken of their balance, trunk movement, and the forces exerted during the start of walking. The participants also shared their experiences in interviews. The study found that walking in water changed how people with iSCI started walking, with those having better balance showing more pronounced changes. Participants generally felt safer walking in water.
The study suggests that aquatic therapy can be a valuable tool for gait rehabilitation in individuals with iSCI, potentially improving balance and reducing the fear of falling.
The altered trunk control strategies observed in water suggest that aquatic therapy can be used to target and improve trunk stability in individuals with iSCI.
The study highlights the need for customized therapeutic interventions, such as aquatic therapy, tailored to individual sensorimotor deficits in both traumatic and non-traumatic iSCI.