Treadmill training enhances the recovery of normal stepping patterns in spinal cord contused rats

Exp Neurol, 2009 · DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2008.11.023 · Published: March 1, 2009

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether treadmill training can improve the ability to walk in rats with incomplete spinal cord injuries. Researchers compared the recovery of walking ability in rats with spinal cord contusions that received treadmill training versus those that did not. The rats trained using a robotic device that supported their weight and helped move their legs. The device also recorded the movements of their ankles. The study found that both trained and untrained rats could take steps after the injury. However, the trained rats showed more normal stepping patterns than the untrained rats, who tended to drag their hindpaws and make quick, kicking movements. This suggests that treadmill training can help restore more natural walking movements after a spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

26 female Sprague–Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Spinal cord contused rats can generate partial weight bearing stepping in the absence of treadmill training.
2
Treadmill training can restore normal ankle movements during stepping in rats following a severe contusion spinal cord injury.
3
Untrained rats moved their ankles with a different trajectory shape and at a faster speed relative to the trained and intact rats, and hindpaw dragging during swing was also more prevalent in the untrained rats.

Research Summary

The study examined the effect of treadmill training on locomotor recovery in rats with severe spinal cord contusions, comparing trained and untrained groups using a robotic device for training and assessment. Results indicated that while both groups could generate partial weight-bearing steps, trained rats exhibited step cycle trajectories and movement velocities more similar to normal rats. The untrained rats displayed abnormal stepping patterns, including hindlimb dragging and fast, kick-like movements, suggesting that treadmill training helps restore normal hindlimb movement patterns after spinal cord injury.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Treadmill training can be an effective rehabilitation strategy for improving stepping patterns in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injuries.

Robotic Assistance

Robotic-assisted treadmill training shows promise for enhancing locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury, warranting further development and testing of robotic assistance algorithms.

Personalized Training

Training should be tailored to address specific movement errors, such as hindpaw dragging, to optimize recovery outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
Delayed onset of training (1 month after injury) may have reduced the effectiveness of treadmill training on stepping recovery.
2
The study did not include a histological or anatomical examination of the spinal cord injury site.
3
Training was limited to bipedal hindlimb stepping, which may not be the most natural form of locomotion for rats.

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