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[Apparelyzed]

Effective Treatment For Spinal Cord Injury Can Vary

February 28, 2006 8:05 p.m. EST

Andrea Moore - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Los Angeles, California (AHN) - According to a new study published in the February 28, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, body weight-supported treadmill training is not more effective than conventional mobility rehabilitation for restoring movement to those with partial spinal cord injury. The study showed an unexpectedly high number of patients achieved functional walking speeds regardless of treatment type.

The multi-center trial analyzed 117 individuals who had a partial spinal cord injury within the previous eight weeks. All patients received an equal amount of therapy for 12 weeks.

Study author Bruce H. Dobkin, MD, of Reed Neurologic Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles says, “We initially expected that body weight-supported treadmill training would be more effective to regain walking ability...But what we found was no significant difference in strategies among individuals...who achieved walking abilities beyond expectations.”

Dobkin says, given that both therapy methods produced similar outcomes, clinicians and patients could base their use of each strategy on personal preferences, skill, availability of equipment, and costs.