Outcomes following a locomotor training protocol on balance, gait, exercise capacity, and community integration in an individual with a traumatic brain injury: a case report

ABSTRACT

Background and Purpose: The NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) established a locomotor training protocol that has shown promising results for individuals with spinal cord injury, yet research to date has not determined its feasibility in those with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this case report was to determine the feasibility of implementing the NRN protocol in an individual with a TBI. Case Description: The participant was a 38-year-old male, 21 years post-TBI. Twenty-four sessions of the therapy portion of the NRN protocol were provided. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), spatial temporal parameters of gait, 6-Minute Walk Test and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ). Outcomes: His BBS score improved from 37/56 to 43/56. Left step length improved; although gait speed, cadence, stride length and right step length did not. Observable changes were noted in quality of gait. Six-Minute Walk Distance increased by 47.2 m while CIQ score changes did not exceed the minimal detectable change (MDC) value. Discussion: Use of the NRN protocol may be feasible in individuals with TBI, though 24 sessions may not have been enough to achieve the full potential benefit of this intervention in an individual with a chronic TBI.

KEYWORDS:

• Body weight support
• Locomotor training
• NeuroRecovery Network
• traumatic brain injury

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the individual who participated in this case report for assisting in data collection and the therapists at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital for assisting with the intervention itself. The authors also would like to thank students involved in the project: Brooke Boyer, Cathern St. George, Katherine Browne, Meghan Walter, Meredith Lynds, Carly Collins, Carrie Brandis, and Cassie Gulli for their contributions in assisting with the intervention and writing of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.