PROTOCOLS OF LB THERAPY

In - patient therapy:

LB therapy performed in the hospital during regular indoor rehabilitation, usually only a single, less often two LB session per day for periods of 30 minutes during 5 days per week can be performed. Once a week walking over ground is attempted, even if massive help by two therapists for balance and weight support are necessary. As soon as a few steps can be made with moderate help only, walking over ground is performed daily during this therapy unit of 30 minutes, usually immediately before or following training on the treadmill (walk from and to wheel chair and treadmill). With further improvement, walking over ground increasingly replaces walking on the treadmill which, however, is often maintained to train for endurance and speed. Stair case climbing may be attempted surprisingly early after gain of stepping capability over ground and can be achieved even in severely paralyzed patients (Wernig et al., 1995). When walking over ground, the same "rules of spinal locomotion" need to be applied; for practical reasons, therefore, walking is initially only allowed during the LB therapy session and under the guidance of therapists specially trained in LB therapy. It is an important goal to teach patients to generally maintain these rules during all walking activities. Apart from LB therapy, all patients participate in the regular conventional rehabilitation program for indoor patients, which includes training of functions for every day living, sports and other activities aimed to enhance muscle strength and mobility. In general, patients who took part in the program for LB therapy obtain the same total amount of individual and other therapy as all other indoor patients: Currently this amounts to 2 units individual therapy for paraplegics, 3 units for tetraplegics and brain injuries (the latter with 2 therapists).