Reviews of effectiveness of training after spinal cord or traumatic brain injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have a devastating impact on those who sustain such injuries, as well as on communities and families. Ensuring that post-injury treatment is as effective as possible is crucial to the successful rehabilitation and quality of life of those who sustain such injuries.

Two new reviews have recently been published in the Cochrane Library (www.cochrane.org) examining training options after SCI1 and TBI.2

The first of these reviews examines the effectiveness of approaches to regaining walking function after SCI.1 The extent of disability after SCI varies greatly, depending on the severity and location of the injury and which nerve fibers are damaged. The resulting neurological deficit can be temporary or permanent, complete or incomplete; one of the primary goals for people with SCI is to improve locomotor function—that is, the ability to walk. Traditional treatments, compensation-based strategies (such as brace walking), are commonly used to facilitate walking, but do not result in the recovery of walking ability as was …