Objective: To test the effect of combined intermittent hypoxia (IH) and body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on standing and dynamic balance in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI).
Design: Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Setting: Rehabilitation medical centers.
Participants: Study participants (N=35) with chronic iSCI with American Spinal Injury Association grades C and D (>1y postinjury) were randomly assigned to either IH plus BWSTT (n=18) or continued normoxia (placebo) plus BWSTT protocol (n=17).
Interventions: Participants received either IH (alternating 1.5min 9% inspired O with 1.5min 21% inspired O, 15 cycles per day) or continued normoxia (21% O) combined with 45 minutes of BWSTT for 5 consecutive days, followed by 3 times per week IH or normoxia plus BWSTT, for 3 additional weeks.
Main Outcome Measures: Standing balance (normalized jerk and root-mean-square [RMS]) and dynamic balance (turning duration, cadence in a turn, and turn-to-sit duration) were assessed before and after IH and normoxia protocol by means of instrumented sway and instrumented timed Up and Go test.
Results: There was no significant difference in standing balance between interventions for both normalized jerk and RMS instrumented sway components (both P>.05). There was a significantly faster cadence (P<.001), turning duration (P<.001), and turn-to-sit duration (P=.001) in subjects receiving IH plus BWSTT, compared with placebo.
Conclusions: A 4-week protocol of IH combined with locomotor training improves dynamic, but not standing, balance in persons with iSCI.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.09.114 | DOI Listing |
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