Comparison of peak oxygen consumption response to aquatic and robotic therapy in individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled trial.
rct · Level II
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30659286.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41393-019-0239-7.
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Abstract
Randomized dual center controlled clinical trial. To determine and compare the cardiorespiratory impact of 3 months of aquatic and robotic therapy for individuals with chronic motor incomplete spinal cord injury (CMISCI). Two rehabilitation specialty hospitals. Thirty-one individuals with CMISCI with neurological level between C2-T12 at least 1 year post injury were randomized to either aquatic or robotic treadmill therapy for 36 sessions. Customized sessions lasted 40-45 min at 65-75% heart rate reserve intensity with peak oxygen consumption (peak VO<sub>2</sub>) measured during arm ergometry at baseline and post intervention. Additional peak robotic treadmill VO<sub>2</sub> assessments were obtained before and after training for participants randomized to robotic intervention. Peak VO<sub>2</sub> measured with arm ergometry was not significantly different with either aquatic intervention (8.1%, p = 0.14, n = 15) or robotic intervention (-0.7%, p = 0.31, n = 17). Peak VO<sub>2</sub> measured with robotic treadmill ergometry demonstrated a statistical improvement (14.7%, p = 0.03, n = 17, two-tailed t-test) across the robotic intervention. Comparison between the two interventions demonstrated a trend favoring aquatic therapy for improving arm ergometry peak VO<sub>2</sub> (ANOVA, p = 0.063). Neither 3-month exercise interventions statistically improved arm cycle ergometry peak VO<sub>2</sub>, our cardiorespiratory surrogate marker, although percent improvement was greater in the aquatic exercise condition. Robotic ergometry peak VO<sub>2</sub> did improve for the robotic intervention, confirming previous work. These results suggest that either intervention may hold utility in improving cardiorespiratory fitness in CMISCI, but peak VO<sub>2</sub> measurement technique appears critical in detecting effects. DOD CDMRP SCI Research Program Clinical Trial Award SC090147, FY 2009. This study is registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01407354.
Medical subject headings
- Exercise Test
- Exercise Therapy
- Oxygen Consumption
- Robotics
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Water Sports