| Objective: To explore the effects of paraplegic walking orthosis (WO) on walking ability, balance ability and lower limb muscle strength in patients with incomplete lumbar L1-L2 spinal cord injury. Methods: A total of 96 patients with spinal cord injury admitted to the hospital were enrolled between January 2021 and January 2024. According to the random number table method, the patients were divided into observation group (n=48) and control group (n=48). On the basis of routine rehabilitation training (muscle strength, range of motion, standing, balance) for 6 months, control group was given knee-ankle-foot-orthosis (KAFO), and observation group was given WO for 12 weeks of training. The changes of walking ability, balance ability and lower limb muscle strength in the two groups were observed. Patients were invited to evaluate the treatment satisfaction. Results: At 6th and 12th week after intervention, gait parameters (step length, leg speed, stride frequency) were increased in both groups, and those at 12th week after intervention were higher than those at 6th week after intervention (all P<0.001). At 6th and 12th weeks after intervention, the above gait parameters in observation group were higher than those in control group (all P<0.01). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, 10m walking time was shortened in both groups, and that at 12th week after intervention was shorter than that at 6th week after intervention (all P<0.01). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, 6min walking distance was increased in both groups, and that at 12th week after intervention was longer than that at 6th week after intervention (all P<0.01). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, 10m walking time in observation group was shorter than that in control group, and 6min walking dista-nce was farther than that in control group (all P<0.01). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, scores of Berg balance function scale were increased in both groups, and those at 12th week after intervention were higher than those at 6th week after intervention (all P<0.001). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, scores of Berg balance function scale in observation group were higher than those in control group (all P<0.001). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, muscle strength of quadriceps and tibialis anterior was increased in both groups, and that at 12th week after intervention was greater than that at 6th week after intervention (all P<0.001). At 6th and 12th week after intervention, muscle strength of quadriceps and tibialis anterior in observation group was greater than that in control group (all P<0.01). After intervention, there was no significant difference in the grading distribution of spinal cord injury between the two groups and within the same group. The total satisfaction of observation group was greater than that of control group (P<0.05). Conclusion：Rehabilitation training with KAFO and WO can effectively improve walking ability, balance ability and lower limb muscle strength in patients with paraplegia induced by incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury of L1-L2 segment. Compared with KAFO, WO may have more advantages. |
