Effect of Body Weight Squatting on Functional Independence in the Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Spinal cord injury may result in incomplete or complete paralysis of the lower limbs making activities of daily living difficult or impossible. Persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI) demonstrate strength deficits that can limit their functional ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Thus, recovery of motor activity and enhancement of residual muscle strength are determinant factors of a high level of functional independence. One activity that paraplegics in American Spinal Injury Association's (ASIA) impairment category D and some in impairment category C can perform is the Arm assisted body weight squat (BWS). It is hypothesized that the lower body strength gained from BWS would not only facilitate chair transfers but could also improve ambulation with a walker and several other active daily living (ADL) tasks requiring balance.

Aim: To study the effectiveness of body weight squatting on functional independence in the individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Materials & Method: An interventional study was conducted Total 30 subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups: Group A (Experimental group) & Group B (Control group). Both the groups were given conventional physiotherapy treatment and Group A was additionally given body weight squatting. All the patients were treated for the period of 6 weeks, 3 days a week for one year.

Before and after intervention assessment was done. Berg Balance Scale, Motor-functional independence measure, sit to stand test with dynamometer taken in each group of patients.

Results: Both the groups showed significant improvement in BBS, FIM, Sit to stand test with dynamometer after 6 week's intervention period. There were greater improvements in Motor FIM (U= 54 and P= 0.0157), BBS (U= 56 and P= 0.0199) and Sit to stand test (Ascending phase Pvalue=0.0001, Descending phase P-value=0.0129) scores in the experimental group that received both conventional treatment and body weight squatting which was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Body weight squatting showed overall significant improvement in lower extremity muscle strength, balance and functional independence and is effective adjunct to rehabilitation in the patients with thoracic incomplete spinal cord injury.