Standing and Gait of the Paraplegics by Spinal Cord Injury after Discharge.

, Jeong, Won Kook; , Lee, Bum Suk; , Kim, Young Hoon; , Kim, Su Kyung; , Choi, Yu Nam

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2005;29(4):365-370.

Jeong, Won Kook , Lee, Bum Suk , Kim, Young Hoon , Kim, Su Kyung , Choi, Yu Nam

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital. jwonkook@hanmail.net

척수손상 하지마비자의 퇴원 후 기립 및 보행 실태

정원국, 이범석, 김영훈, 김수경, 최유남

국립재활병원 재활의학과

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this follow-up study was to evaluate the status of standing and gait for the paraplegics at their home after discharge.
Method
A medical doctor interviewed 93 paraplegics by spinal cord injury, who visited the outpatient clinic of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, or who were admitted for the follow up urologic evaluation.
Results
Out of 93 paraplegics, 90 patients had done a standing exercise in hospitals, but 42 patients continued a standing exercise after discharge. Seventy-nine patients had done a gait exercise in hospitals, but only 24 patients continued a gait exercise after discharge. Seventy-five patients were prescribed KAFO (Knee-Ankle-Foot orthosis), but only 11 patients used the KAFO continuously after discharge. The reasons to stop using KAFO were loss of motivation, lack of time, no helper, difficulties with wearing orthoses, and etc. The continuous using rates of other standing or exercise equipments were higher than that of KAFO.
Conclusion
Many paraplegics had done gait training and had been prescribed KAFO in hospitals. But only 14.7% of them had used KAFO for any purpose after discharge. We believe that more careful consideration and explanation are needed to each patient. We think that standing or exercise equipments are good alternatives. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2005; 29: 365-370)

Key Words: Paraplegia, Orthosis, Standing, Gait