THE INFLUENCE OF CYCLIC TRAINING WITH THE USE OF A “LOKOMAT” ROBOTIC DEVICE ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM OF THE PATIENTS SUFFERING AFTEREFFECTS OF THE SPINAL CORD INJURY

Abstract

Changes of central and peripheral hemodynamics in 67 patients presenting with traumatic disease of the spinal cord (TDSC) were estimated during the chronic rehabilitative period. The patients performed walking exercises in a “Lokomat” robotic-assisted system during 30 minutes after which their arterial pressure, cardiac activity, and vascular characteristics were measured. The reaction of the cardiovascular system to physical exercises was shown to depend on the location of the injury to the spinal cord. It was most pronounced in the patients suffering the damage to the inferior thoracic and lumbar segments of the spinal column. In the patients having the injury localized at a higher level, the abnormal reaction of the cardiovascular system to exercises took place. These observations suggest the development of the compensatory mechanisms of adaptation to passive walking in the patients with serious locomotor disturbances resulting from the spinal cord injury. It is concluded that walking exercises with the use of a “Lokomat” robotic-assisted system may serve as a mode of training the cardiovascular system in the patients with the damaged spinal cord.

Keywords

traumatic disease of the spinal cord / cardiovascular system / training with walking exercises using a robotic system

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