Activity-based locomotor training: improving the movement in children with spinal cord injury

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of activity-based locomotor training (ABLT) on motor function and walking ability in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). Materials and methods: The Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, VIP, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched for related studies, with two reviewers subsequently evaluating the literature quality using the Cochrane Handbook. Results: A total of 11 studies were eligible, while only one met the ABLT standard program criteria. Overall, ABLT significantly improved the lower limb motor function, increased walking speed and distance, and improved the daily living ability of children with SCI. Conclusions: The ABLT strategy is of great significance to the motor function and walking ability of children with SCI. At present, there exist few studies on the application of ABLT for pediatric SCI. Further control studies with a larger sample size are required to improve the ABLT program guidelines for children with SCI.