| Abstract |
FUNCTIONAL ENDURANCE AND WALKING ABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY WHO WALKED WITH AND WITHOUT WALKING DEVICES
W. Saensook
1
1
, L. Mato
1
, S. Amatachaya
1
, P. Poncumhak
2
School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen,
2
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Phayao University, Phayao, Thailand
Walking devices are frequently used in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) to increase levels of independence. Prolonged use of a walking device may attribute negative impacts to the patients such as musculoskeletal pain, slow walking speed. However, little know about effect of walking devices on functional endurance in SCI. This study investigated functional endurance and walking ability in 58 independent ambulatory patients with SCI who walked with and without walking devices using the 6-minute walk test. Results show that walking endurance and speed of subjects who walked with walking devices were significantly less than those who walked without walking devices (p< 0.005). Walking devices using may contribute to decrease functional endurance. However, there are many factors affect to functional endurance. Therefore, further study should investigate other factors related to functional endurance in these patients. |
Publication
Journal Publication
ไทย