Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify the factor of determination for independent gait (IG) and the maximum walking speed (MWS) in patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries. The subjects were 77 patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries. Within 77 patients, 35 patients were resulted from trauma with cervical disorder; on the other hand, 42 were nontraumatic patients. They were examined at the start of gait exercise (first period) and 1 month after (second period). All of the measurements were consisted of 10 variables such as lumbar and sacral sensation, lower limb spasticity, sitting balance, ability to stand up, extension range of knee joint, dorsiflexion range of ankle joint, isokinetic strength of knee extension and flexion, and the MWS. The number of IG procurer was 50 (64.9%) at the 2nd period. Using IG as an object variable in multiple regression analysis, all of the variables except IG were analyzed as explanatory variables. From results of the multiple regression analysis, the first factor for IG was isokinetic strength of knee extension at the less affected side, and the second factor was sitting balance at the 1st period. Furthermore, at the 2nd period, the first factor was isokinetic strength of knee extension at the less affected side, the second factor was ability to stand up, and the third factor was grade of spasticity of less affected side. On the other hand, using the MWS as an object variable in multiple regression analysis, the first factor was isokinetic strength of knee flexion at the more affected side, the second factor was extension range of knee joint at the both period. These results suggested that the factors influenced to improve walking ability during physical therapy for the patients with incomplete cervical cord injuries.
