Early and intensive motor training (versus usual care) to enhance neurological recovery and function in people with spinal cord injury (SCI)
Treatments that promote neurological recovery, reduce paralysis and increase function are needed for people with SCI. The most promising and readily implementable intervention that could make a lasting difference to the lives of people with SCI is early and intensive motor training directed at recovery below the level of the injury. The aim therefore of The Early & Intensive SCI-MT Trial is to determine the effectiveness of early and intensive motor training on neurological recovery and function in people with SCI.
The QENSIU will be one of two UK sites in a multi-centred international pragmatic randomised controlled trial that will compare 10 weeks of early and intensive motor training with usual care for people with recent SCI. The primary endpoint will be motor recovery at 10 weeks (Total Motor Score from ISNCSCI). Secondary endpoints will be other measures of neurological status (AIS, Total Sensory Score from ISNCSCI), function (SCIM-SR), time to discharge, ability to walk (WISCI), psychological status (WHOQOL-BREF, EQ-5D-5L), spasticity, pain and participants’ impressions of therapeutic benefit/change at 10 weeks and 6 months.
