OBJECTIVE: to describe the locomotion profile of a group of spinal cord injured (SCI) patients and its correlation with the sample features. METHODS: seventy patients (50 with traumatic SCI and 20 non-traumatic) were assessed. Instruments: Modified Functional Ambulation Classification (MFAC), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI-II), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) and AIS Lower Extremities Muscle Score (AIS-LEMS). Statistics: descriptive, comparison between groups, correlation tests (considering p<0,05). RESULTS: average values were: age: 36 years, 72.9% males, average time of lesion 4.7 years. AIS A, 38.6%; AIS B, 10%; AIS C, 22.8%; AIS D, 28.6%. Level of lesion: 32.8% cervical, 52.9% thoracic, 14.3% lumbar. More prevalent etiologies: gunshot wounds 30% and car accidents 18%. MFAC: Non-ambulation, 34.3%; Therapeutic ambulation 20%, Household ambulation 12.8%, community ambulation (32.9%); WISCI-II: 7.5, AIS-LEMS: 13.4. There were differences between traumatic and non-traumatic groups concerning age, sex, AIS, AIS-LEMS, MFAC and WISCI-II. Significant correlations: AIS positively correlated to MFAC, WISCI-II and AIS-LEMS. Level of lesion negatively correlated to MAS. AIS-LEMS positively correlated to AIS, MFAC, WISCI-II and negatively correlated to support and orthosis during ambulation. Time of lesion and presence of disabling pain were not correlated to the studied variables. CONCLUSIONS: traumatic SCI group was composed by younger patients with higher prevalence of complete lesion. Age was correlated to the use of orthosis and walking devices. Functional performance of gait was correlated with AIS and AIS-LEMS, and a AIS-LEMS of at least 32 points was needed to achieve community gait.
Spinal cord injuries; Gait; Rehabilitation; Locomotion
