Gait rehabilitation with body weight-supported treadmill training for a blast injury survivor with traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Background and purpose: Research supports the use of body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) in patients with hemi-paresis and may show promise as a gait training and neuromuscular re-education intervention in the blast-injured, traumatic brain injury (TBI) population. The purpose of this case study is to document the use BWSTT and goal-directed therapy in the improvement of gait quality, gait speed and maximum distance ambulated in a blast injury survivor with TBI.

Case description: A 36-year-old male soldier injured by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq who began physical therapy and gait training incorporating purposeful postural stability and mobility interventions as well as BWSTT.

Outcomes: Missouri Assisted Gait scores, six-minute walk distances, and maximum distance ambulated all increased post gait training with BWSTT as a component to PT intervention.

Discussion: Intensive gait training including BWSTT may have some efficacy in managing significant blast trauma patients with TBI however, further research is necessary to establish efficacy and appropriateness in this patient population.

• Blast injury
• traumatic brain injury
• gait training
• body weight-supported treadmill training