%0 Journal Article
%T Asymmetric lower-limb bone loss after spinal cord injury: Case report
%A Alison M. Lichy
%A PT
%A DPT
%A NCS
%A Suzanne Groah
%A MD
%A MPH
%J Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
%D 2012
%I Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs
%X Osteoporosis is a significant secondary condition that occurs acutely after spinal cord injury (SCI). This article reports on a patient with motor incomplete SCI and asymmetric lower-limb bone loss as it correlates with lower-limb motor function and gait characteristics. A 32-year-old Caucasian male completed a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program, including 3 months of robotic body-weight-supported treadmill training three times a week. Bone mineral density (BMD) was monitored up to 1.5 years post-SCI by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Ground reaction forces were measured through an instrumented treadmill for bilateral weight-bearing comparison. At 1.5 years postinjury, neurological examination revealed thoracic 4 American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale D SCI with less strength, reduced weight bearing, and lower BMD in the more neurologically impaired leg. These results suggest that osteoporosis may vary according to severity of impairment within individuals and that monitoring lower-limb BMD is especially important for patients who ambulate.
%K bone density
%K DXA
%K ground reaction forces
%K lower-limb motor function
%K osteoporosis
%K paraplegia
%K rehabilitation
%K robotic-assisted body-weight-supported treadmill training
%K spinal cord injury
%K tetraplegia
%U http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/2012/492/pdf/lichy492.pdf