Hindlimb immobilization in a wheelchair alters functional recovery following contusive spinal cord injury in the adult rat.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Locomotor training of rats with thoracic contusion spinal cord injuries can induce task-specific changes in stepping but rarely results in improved overground locomotion, possibly due to a ceiling effect. Thus, the authors hypothesize that incompletely injured rats maximally retrain themselves while moving about in their cages over the first few weeks postinjury.

Objective

To test the hypothesis using hindlimb immobilization after mild thoracic contusion spinal cord injury in adult female rats. A passive stretch protocol was included as an independent treatment.

Methods

Wheelchairs were used to hold the hindlimbs stationary in an extended position leaving the forelimbs free. The wheelchairs were used for 15 to 18 hours per day, 5 days per week for 8 weeks,

SUBMITTER: Caudle KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4419333 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature