Locomotion in patients with spinal cord injuries

Following central motor lesions, two forms of reorganization can be observed that lead to improved mobility: (1) the development of increased muscle tone and (2) the activation of spinal locomotor centers induced by specific treadmill training. Tension development is different from normal during spastic gait and appears to be independent of exaggerated monosynaptic stretch reflexes. Exaggerated stretch reflexes are associated with an absence or reduction of functionally essential polysynaptic reflexes. Based on observations of the locomotor capacity of the spinal cat, recent studies have indicated that spinal locomotor centers can be activated and trained in patients with complete or incomplete paraplegia when the body is partially unloaded. The level of electromyographic activity in the gastrocnemius muscle, however, is considerably lower in patients with central motor lesions than in persons without neurological impairments. During the course of a daily locomotor training program, the amplitude of gastrocnemius muscle electromyographic activity increases during the stance phase and inappropriate tibialis anterior muscle activity decreases. Such training programs can improve the ability of patients with incomplete paraplegia to walk on stationary surfaces. This article reviews the pathophysiology and functional importance of increased muscle tone and the effects of treadmill training on the locomotor pattern underlying new attempts to improve the mobility of patients with paraplegia.