Impact of treadmill gait training with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the urodynamic profile of patients with high cervical spinal cord injury

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the impact of gait training with neuromuscular electrical stimulation on urodynamic parameters of patients with neurogenic bladder. Methods: Eight male quadriplegic patients with complete cervical injury level ranging from C4 to C7 comprised the study population. They underwent treadmill gait training with neuromuscular electrical stimulation for six months, only after having their quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles stimulated for five months in order to support at least 50% of their body weight (pre-gait training). Urodynamic testing was performed before the treadmill gait training and six months after. Results: The mean time after cervical lesion was 74.63 months. The urodynamic parameters before and after neuromuscular training by electrical stimulation did not show significant difference. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that neuromuscular training with electrical stimulation can benefit the urinary tract. This promising minimally invasive field requires further and more complete studies to confirm a possible benefit to the low urinary tract.

Keywords

• Spinal cord injuries
• Urinary bladder, neurogenic
• Urodynamics/physiology
• Electric stimulation