Assessment of functional improvement without compensation reduces variability of outcome measures after human spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a scale (Neuromuscular Recovery Scale [NRS]) for classification of functional motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) based on preinjury movement patterns that would reduce variability of the populations' level of function within each class, because assessment of functional improvement after SCI is problematic as a result of high variability of the populations' level of function and the insensitivity to change within the available outcome measures.

DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort with longitudinal follow-up.

SETTING: Seven outpatient rehabilitation centers from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN).

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (N=95) with American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade C or AIS grade D having received at least 20 locomotor training treatment sessions in the NRN.

INTERVENTIONS: Intensive locomotor training including stepping on a treadmill with partial body weight support and manual facilitation and translation of skills into home and community activities.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Berg Balance Scale, six-minute walk test, and ten-meter walk test.

RESULTS: Individuals classified within each of the 4 phases of the NRS were functionally discrete, as shown by significant differences in the mean values of balance, gait speed, and walking endurance, and the variability of these measurements was significantly reduced by NRS classification. The magnitude of improvements in these outcomes was also significantly different among phase groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Assessment with the NRS provides a classification for functional motor recovery without compensation, which reduces variability in performance and improvements for individuals with injuries classified as AIS grades C and D.