Effect of overground training augmented by mental practice on gait velocity in chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury

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).

Randomized, controlled, single-blinded study.

Outpatient rehabilitation laboratories.

Subjects with chronic, incomplete SCI (N=18).

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.

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.

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.

OT was associated with significant gains in gait velocity, and these gains were not augmented by further addition of MP.