REHABILITATION OF WALKING FOR PARAPLEGIC PATIENTS BY MEANS OF A TREADMILL

The present study was aimed at investigating the use of a treadmill fo r ambulation training of paraplegic subjects. To investigate the likel y effectiveness of this modality of rehabilitation, six paraplegic pat ients (three male and three female) were studied, using new generation reciprocating gait orthoses (RGO and ARGO), in a treadmill training p rogram. Oxygen consumption, heart rate, and pulmonary ventilation were measured when the subjects were walking at their most comfortable spe ed on the treadmill and on the open field. These measurements were car ried out at the beginning of the study and after two and six months of treadmill training. The following findings were significant: the trea dmill walking required 30% less energy than open field ambulation prio r to training (P < 0.001) and 50% after training (P < 0.05). The most comfortable walking speed was faster on the treadmill than on the open field by 18% prior to training (P < 0.05) and 42% afterwards (P < 0.0 5). The energy cost was 50% less after 2 months training on the treadm ill (P < 0.05) showing that treadmill training can improve the efficie ncy of over ground ambulation. It can be concluded that the treadmill training improves the RGO/ARGO walking capability, probably both the w alking efficiency (short term adaptation) and physical fitness (long t erm adaptation).