Dosing of Overground Robotic Gait Training with Functional Outcomes and Neuroplasticity After Spinal Cord Injury

About this trial

This trial is enrolling individuals with recent incomplete spinal cord injuries undergoing inpatient rehabilitation to test the effect of robotic gait training (RGT), using an externally worn powered robotic device (exoskeleton) to assist walking movement. If included, participants will undergo either: 1) one inpatient exoskeleton training session followed by two outpatient sessions of RGT per week for 12 weeks; 2) one inpatient exoskeleton training session followed by three outpatient sessions of RGT per week for 8 weeks, 3) one inpatient exoskeleton training session followed by four outpatient sessions of RGT per week for 6 weeks, or 4) standard inpatient gait training without RGT. Each session will last 45 minutes. Final testing will be performed 9 months after injury, including measures of walking function, Motor Evoked Potentials using non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation, pain, fatigue and life satisfaction .