Effect of Overground Training Augmented by Mental Practice on Gait Velocity in Chronic, Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of a regimen combining mental practice (MP) with overground training (OT) with the efficacy of a regimen consisting of OT only on gait velocity and lower extremity motor outcomes in individuals with chronic (>12mo postinjury), incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Randomized, controlled, single-blinded study. Setting Outpatient rehabilitation laboratories. Participants Subjects with chronic, incomplete SCI (N=18). Interventions Subjects were randomly assigned to receive (1) OT only, occurring 3d/wk for 8 weeks; or (2) OT augmented by MP (MP + OT), during which randomly assigned subjects listened to an MP audio recording directly after OT sessions. Main Outcome Measures Subjects were administered a test of gait velocity as well as the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment, Spinal Cord Injury Independence Measure, and Satisfaction With Life Scale on 2 occasions before intervention, 1 week after intervention, and 12 weeks after intervention. Results A significant increase in gait velocity was exhibited across subjects at both 1 week posttherapy ( P =.005) and at 12 weeks posttherapy ( P =.006). However, no differences were seen in intervention response at either 1 or 12 weeks postintervention among subjects in the MP + OT group versus the OT-only group. Conclusions OT was associated with significant gains in gait velocity, and these gains were not augmented by further addition of MP.