Advanced weight-bearing mat exercises combined with functional electrical stimulation to improve the ability of wheelchair-dependent people with spinal cord injury to transfer and attain independence in activities of daily living: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Objective: To determine the effects of advanced weight-bearing mat exercises (AWMEs) with/without functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles on the ability of wheelchair-dependent people with spinal cord injury (SCI) to transfer and attain independence in activities of daily living (ADLs). Setting: An outpatient clinic, Iran. Methods: People with traumatic chronic paraplegia (N = 16) were randomly allocated to three groups. The exercise group (EX; N = 5) performed AWMEs of quadruped unilateral reaching and tall-kneeling for 24 weeks (3 days/week). Sessions were increased from 10 min to 54 min over the 24-week..