Review
Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 184–195; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.100; published online 26 August 2008
The effectiveness of physical interventions for people with spinal cord injuries: a systematic review
L A Harvey1, C-WC Lin1, J V Glinsky1 and A De Wolf1
1Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Northern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Correspondence: Dr LA Harvey, Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney, PO Box 6, Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales 1680, Australia. E-mail: l.harvey@usyd.edu.au
Received 5 May 2008; Revised 23 June 2008; Accepted 6 July 2008; Published online 26 August 2008.
Abstract
Study design:
Systematic review.
Objectives:
To provide a quantitative analysis of all randomized controlled trials designed to determine the effectiveness of physical interventions for people with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Setting:
Sydney, Australia.
Methods:
A search was conducted for randomized controlled trials involving physical interventions for people with SCI. Two reviewers independently rated methodological quality using the PEDro scale and extracted key findings from the trials.
Results:
Four thousand five hundred and forty three abstracts were identified of which 31 trials met the inclusion criteria. Trials examined the effectiveness of fitness and strength training (n=7), gait training (n=5), hand therapy (n=3), stretch (n=4), acupuncture (n=3), hand splinting (n=2) and other related therapies (n=7). Six trials reported a between-group mean difference with a clearly important treatment effect on at least one outcome measure. These trials supported the use of fitness, strength and gait training as well as acupuncture.
Conclusion:
There is initial evidence supporting the effectiveness of some physical interventions for people with SCI. However, there is a pressing need for high-quality trials to determine the effectiveness of all physical interventions commonly administered in clinical practice.
Keywords:
rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, systematic review
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated
RESEARCH
Kidney International Original Article
