Use of body weight support over ground in gait training of the spinal cord injuried patient

Abstract

The present research consists in the use of body weight support (BWS) as a resource when the spinal cord injured patient reaches the phase of preparation for gait, because it allows to the trainings with the gradual discharge of weight on the ground, providing the adaptation of the patient to the activity, with lower energy expense. Objective: To demonstrate the use of body weight support as an auxiliary resource in the initial gait training in an individual with spinal cord injury and to show the functional gain, represented by the distance/ time covered, associate to the energy expenditure and the cardiac rate. Subject: Patient victim of automobile accident in 2003, with diagnostic of spinal cord injury, hypotonic T7 level. Procedure: The gait training with body weight support consisted of 21 sessions with duration of 30 minutes, 2 times per week. An ergoespirometric test was carried through before and after the training. Results: The patient presented reduction of the blood pressure of 150/100 mmHg for 120/80 mmHg, increase covered distance of 30 m for 70 m, considerable reduction of duration time of each lap and reduction the cardiac frequency of rest and the cardiac frequency of peak. Considering the related physical coefficients, average cardiac frequency for lap and total time of accomplishment of the test, he had expressive improves in the physical performance of the patient.