Arm and Leg Cycling Results in Greater Improvements in Gait Biomechanics When Paired with Functional Electrical Stimulation Than Motorized Assistance for Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Arm and leg cycling poses a non-gait specific rehabilitation technique that can leverage the neural connection between upper and lower limbs to drive improvements in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury. The objective of this study was to compare arm and leg cycling with and without functional electrical stimulation to promote improvements in gait biomechanics over a 12-week, five session per week training program, mimicking gait-specific rehabilitation. Gait analysis was conducted before and after the training program. Both groups exhibited improvements in affected limb step length, single support, and hip range of motion. However, improvements were greater for all outcomes in the functional electrical stimulation group. This preliminary data provide the initial foundation for comparing arm and leg cycling to gait-specific training, and pursuing it as a cost-effective and scalable device for spinal cord injury treatment as well as other neurologically-driven gait impairments.