BACKGROUND: Several studies in rodents with complete spinal cord transections have demonstrated that treadmill training improves stepping movements. However, results from studies in incomplete spinal cord injured animals have been conflicting and questions regarding the training dosage after injury remain unresolved. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of treadmill-training regimen (20 minutes daily, 5 days a week) for 3, 6 or 9 weeks on the recovery of locomotion in hemisected SCI mice. METHODS: A randomized and blinded controlled experimental trial used a mouse model of incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). After a left hemisection at T10, adult male mice were randomized to trained or untrained groups. The trained group commenced treadmill training one week after surgery and continued for 3, 6 or 9 weeks. Quantitative kinematic gait analysis was used to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of the left hindlimb prior to injury and at 1, 4, 7 and 10 weeks post-injury. RESULTS: One week after injury there was no movement of the left hindlimb and some animals dragged their foot. Treadmill training led to significant improvements in step duration, but had limited effect on the hindlimb movement pattern. Locomotor improvements in trained animals were most evident at the hip and knee joints whereas recovery of ankle movement was limited, even after 9 weeks of treadmill training. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that treadmill training may lead to only modest improvement in recovery of hindlimb movement after incomplete spinal cord injury in mice.
BACKGROUND: Several studies in rodents with complete spinal cord transections have demonstrated that treadmill training improves stepping movements. However, results from studies in incomplete spinal cord injured animals have been conflicting and questions regarding the training dosage after injury remain unresolved. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of treadmill-training regimen (20 minutes daily, 5 days a week) for 3, 6 or 9 weeks on the recovery of locomotion in hemisected SCI mice. METHODS: A randomized and blinded controlled experimental trial used a mouse model of incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). After a left hemisection at T10, adult male mice were randomized to trained or untrained groups. The trained group commenced treadmill training one week after surgery and continued for 3, 6 or 9 weeks. Quantitative kinematic gait analysis was used to assess the spatiotemporal characteristics of the left hindlimb prior to injury and at 1, 4, 7 and 10 weeks post-injury. RESULTS: One week after injury there was no movement of the left hindlimb and some animals dragged their foot. Treadmill training led to significant improvements in step duration, but had limited effect on the hindlimb movement pattern. Locomotor improvements in trained animals were most evident at the hip and knee joints whereas recovery of ankle movement was limited, even after 9 weeks of treadmill training. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that treadmill training may lead to only modest improvement in recovery of hindlimb movement after incomplete spinal cord injury in mice.
Authors: Ashraf S Gorgey; David R Dolbow; James D Dolbow; Refka K Khalil; Camilo Castillo; David R Gater Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2014-07-07 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Wojciech K Timoszyk; Jeff A Nessler; Cynthia Acosta; Roland R Roy; V Reggie Edgerton; David J Reinkensmeyer; Ray de Leon Journal: Brain Res Date: 2005-07-19 Impact factor: 3.252
Authors: Camila R Battistuzzo; Michelle M Rank; Jamie R Flynn; David L Morgan; Robin Callister; Robert J Callister; Mary P Galea Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2016-11-07 Impact factor: 3.217