Effects of BTE System Intensive Training on Upper Limbs after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the effect of BTE system intensive training on upper limbs for cervical spinal cord injured patients in various courses. Methods:From June, 2019 to January, 2020, 60 inpatients with traumatic C6-7 spinal cord injury were selected into sub-acute group (one to two months after surgery, n = 15), recovery group (three to six months after surgery, n = 15), stable group (over six months after surgery, n = 15) according to the course of disease, and control group (over six months after surgery, n = 15). The control group received comprehensive rehabilitation, while the other groups received upper limbs intensive training on BTE system in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with Upper Extremity Motor Score (UEMS) and Functional Independence Measure (FIM), meassured isometric peak torque (IPT) and isotonic extreme muscle endurance (IEE) of bilateral elbow extensors before and after treatment. Results:All the indexes improved after treatment (t > 3.500, P < 0.01), and they were significantly different among the groups (F > 9.257, P < 0.001), in which, it was the most of UEMS and IPT in the sub-acute group, and IEE and FIM in the recovery group. Conclusion:BTE system intensive training is effective on upper limbs after cervical spinal cord injury. Sub-acute patients may improve more in motor function and explosive power, while patients at recovery stage do better in endurance and activities of daily living. Even stable patients can benefit from it somehow.