Hindlimb Stretching Alters Locomotor Function After Spinal Cord Injury in the Adult Rat

Background. Stretching is a widely accepted standard-of-care therapy following spinal cord injury (SCI) that has not been systematically studied in animal models. Objective. To investigate the influence of a daily stretch-based physical therapy program on locomotor recovery in adult rats with modera...

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Published in:Neurorehabilitation and neural repair 2015-03, Vol.29 (3), p.268-277
Main Authors: Caudle, Krista L., Atkinson, Darryn A., Brown, Edward H., Donaldson, Katie, Seibt, Erik, Chea, Tim, Smith, Erin, Chung, Karianne, Shum-Siu, Alice, Cron, Courtney C., Magnuson, David S. K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomechanical Phenomena
Disease Models, Animal
Exercise Therapy
Female
Hindlimb
Locomotion
Muscle Stretching Exercises
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Recovery of Function
Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology
Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Background. Stretching is a widely accepted standard-of-care therapy following spinal cord injury (SCI) that has not been systematically studied in animal models. Objective. To investigate the influence of a daily stretch-based physical therapy program on locomotor recovery in adult rats with moderate T9 contusive SCI. Methods. A randomized treatment and control study of stretching in an animal model of acute SCI. Moderate SCIs were delivered with the NYU Impactor. Daily stretching (30 min/day, 5 days/wk for 8 weeks) was provided by a team of animal handlers. Hindlimb function was assessed using the BBB Open Field Locomotor Scale and kinematically. Passive range-of-motion for each joint was determined weekly using a goniometer. Results. Declines in hindlimb function during overground stepping were observed for the first 4 weeks for stretched animals. BBB scores improved weeks 5 to 10 but remained below the control group. Stretched animals had significant deficits in knee passive range of motion starting at week 4 and for the duration of the study. Kinematic assessment showed decreased joint excursion during stepping that partially recovered beginning at week 5. Conclusion. Stretch-based therapy significantly impaired functional recovery in adult rats with a moderate contusive SCI at T10. The negative impact on function was greatest acutely but persisted even after the stretching ceased at 8 weeks postinjury.
ISSN:1545-9683
1552-6844
DOI:10.1177/1545968314543500