A training paradigm to enhance motor recovery in contused rats: effects of staircase training

Ambulating on stairs is an important aspect of daily activities for many individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), and little is known about the effect of training for this specific task.

The goal of this study was to determine whether staircase ascent training enhances motor recovery in animals with contusion injury.

Rats received a midthoracic contusion lesion of moderate severity and were randomly divided into 2 groups, with one group receiving staircase ascent training for up to 8 weeks and the other receiving no training. To assess the direct effect of training, a task-specific staircase climbing test was performed. Open field test (BBB) and gait analysis (CatWalk) assessed overground recovery, and a grid test was used to assess improvement in sensorimotor tasks. Changes in muscle mass of the forelimb and hindlimb muscles were also measured, and the extent of spared white matter was determined for lesion verification and anatomical correlations.

Staircase training improved the task-specific performance of ascent. Gait parameters, including base of support, stride length, regularity index (RI), and step sequence, also improved. Overground locomotion and the grid test, both showed a trend of improved performance. Finally, hindlimb muscle mass was maintained with training.

Staircase ascent training after incomplete SCI has beneficial effects on task-specific as well as nonspecific motor and sensorimotor activities.