TABLE 1.
General information about the participants of the study.
| Patient | Gender | Age, years | Level of spine damage | Level of spinal cord damage | Duration of paralysis, yrs | Rivermead Mobility Index | Barthel Index | AIS | AIS motor before/after training | AIS sensory LT before/after training | AIS sensory PP before/after training | Muscle tone, for spasticity: MAS before and after training | # of training sessions | # of training sessions with SCES | Total training duration, min | Averaged session duration, min | Walk duration, min | Max non-stop walk, min | Previous experience | Hauser Ambulation Index (0–9) before/after training |
| Group 1 (1 pulse/s SCES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P1 | Ì | 37 | Th9 | D9 | 1.5 | 4 | 65 | A | 0/0 | 60/60 | 60/60 | Spastic R2/2, L2/2 | 15 | 9 | 872 | 58 | 380 | 8.7 | SCES | 8/7 |
| P2 | F | 33 | Th4-5 | D4 | 4.8 | 3 | 30 | A | 0/0 | 44/48 | 46/48 | Normal R0/0, L0/0 | 13 | 7 | 625 | 48 | 262 | 5.3 | – | 8/8 |
| P3 | Ì | 21 | Th5-7 | D4 | 2 | 0 | 25 | A | 1/1 | 40/43 | 43/43 | Spastic R2/3, L2/3 | 13 | 7 | 785 | 60 | 265 | 9.5 | – | 8/8 |
| P4 | Ì | 37 | Th12-L1 | D10-12 | 2.5 | 4 | 75 | C | 19/19 | 87/90 | 87/90 | Low | 12 | 8 | 743 | 62 | 394 | 15.2 | SCES | 7/6 |
| P5 | Ì | 38 | Th10-12 | D10 | 6 | 4 | 60 | A | 0/0 | 64/64 | 64/64 | Low | 12 | 8 | 616 | 51 | 315 | 21.5 | – | 8/8 |
| P6 | F | 55 | Ñ6-7 | C8 | 10 | 3 | 60 | B | 0/0 | 74/74 | 42/42 | Low | 8 | 7 | 294 | 37 | 166 | 3.5 | – | 9/8 |
| mean ± SD | 13 | 8 | 656 ± 202 | 53 ± 10 | 297 ± 85 | 10.6 ± 6.7 | ||||||||||||||
| Group 2 (3 pulses/s SCES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P7 | Ì | 38 | Th10 | D9 | 2.5 | 3 | 65 | A | 0/1 | 62/62 | 64/64 | Spastic R1/0, L1/0 | 10 | 9 | 432 | 43 | 302 | 37.6 | EXO, SCES | 7/6 |
| P8 | F | 34 | Th5 | D4 | 6 | 3 | 60 | A | 0/1 | 44/44 | 44/44 | Normal R0/0, L0/0 | 10 | 8 | 428 | 43 | 278 | 37.2 | EXO, SCES | 8/8 |
| P9 | Ì | 20 | Th5-6 | D4 | 11 | 3 | 65 | À | 6/6 | 78/78 | 66/66 | Low with distal clonus | 10 | 9 | 395 | 40 | 271 | 21.5 | SCES | 8/8 |
| P10 | Ì | 21 | Th5 | D5 | 4 | 4 | 55 | A | 0/1 | 44/44 | 44/45 | Spastic R3/3, L3/2 | 9 | 9 | 348 | 39 | 205 | 25.4 | EXO, SCES | 8/8 |
| P11 | Ì | 32 | Th5-6 | D4 | 4.5 | 2 | 60 | À | 0/0 | 44/44 | 44/44 | Low with distal clonus | 10 | 8 | 415 | 42 | 274 | 23.8 | SCES | 8/8 |
| P12 | Ì | 37 | Th12, L1-2 | L2 | 11 | 3 | 75 | B | 6/9 | 107/107 | 103/103 | Low | 7 | 7 | 460 | 66 | 380 | 185.0 | EXO | 8/8 |
| P13 | F | 27 | Th10 | D11 | 3 | 7 | 75 | B | 0/3 | 89/91 | 91/93 | Low with distal clonus | 10 | 9 | 404 | 40 | 286 | 40.8 | EXO | 7/6 |
| P14 | Ì | 20 | Th5-6 | D7 | 2 | 7 | 90 | B | 0/0 | 58/58 | 58/58 | Spastic R3/3, L2/2 | 7 | 6 | 223 | 33 | 137 | 18.4 | EXO | 7/6 |
| P15 | Ì | 24 | Th12 | L2 | 1.5 | 7 | 65 | C | 12/13 | 98/100 | 100/102 | Spastic R1/1, L1 + /1 + | 9 | 7 | 226 | 25 | 157 | 21.9 | EXO | 7/6 |
| mean ± SD (*excluding P12) | 9 | 8 | 370 ± 88 | 41 ± 11 | 255 ± 76 | 28.3 ± 8.2* | ||||||||||||||
| Group 3 (67 + 3 pulses/s SCES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P16 | Ì | 27 | Th5-8 | D6 | 9 | 3 | 50 | A | 0/0 | 60/63 | 60/63 | Spastic R4/3, L4/3 | 11 | 8 | 766 | 70 | 278 | 8.15 | – | 8/8 |
| P17 | Ì | 28 | Th5-7 | D5 | 1.5 | 3 | 40 | Â | 0/3 | 68/68 | 56/58 | Spastic R4/3, L4/4 | 10 | 9 | 408 | 41 | 279 | 31.7 | EXO, SCES | 8/8 |
| P18 | Ì | 31 | Th7 | D7 | 1 | 3 | 8 | À | 0/2 | 52/52 | 52/52 | Spastic R4/3, L4/3 | 11 | 10 | 507 | 46 | 388 | 40.4 | EXO, SCES | 8/8 |
| P19 | Ì | 32 | C5-7, Th1 | D3 | 4 | 4 | 75 | C | 12/14 | 110/112 | 75/75 | Spastic R4/3, L4/3 | 9 | 8 | 308 | 34 | 204 | 14.2 | SCES | 7/6 |
| mean ± SD | 10 | 9 | 497 ± 197 | 48 ± 15 | 287 ± 76 | 23.6 ± 15.0 | ||||||||||||||
| Group 4 (control, without SCES) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P20 | M | 36 | Th7 | D11 | 3 | 3 | 55 | A | 0/0 | 73/73 | 73/73 | LOW with distal clonus | 12 | 0 | 526 | 44 | 422 | 39 | – | 8/8 |
| P21 | M | 28 | Th12 | L1 | 2 | 3 | 55 | B | 2/2 | 78/78 | 78/78 | Spastic R1/1,L1/1 | 12 | 0 | 479 | 40 | 384 | 40 | – | 7/7 |
| P22 | M | 44 | Th12 | L3 | 6 | 3 | 55 | C | 17/18 | 88/90 | 90/92 | Spastic R2/2,L3/2 | 12 | 0 | 469 | 39 | 390 | 39 | – | 7/7 |
| P23 | M | 33 | Th12-L1 | L2 | 11 | 4 | 85 | C | 16/16 | 94/94 | 92/92 | Low | 12 | 0 | 502 | 42 | 419 | 41 | – | 7/7 |
| P24 | F | 20 | Th5-6, Th9-10 | D4 | 2 | 4 | 65 | A | 52/52 | 44/44 | 69/69 | Normal R0/0,L0/0 | 12 | 0 | 581 | 48 | 381 | 24 | – | 8/8 |
| P25 | M | 38 | C7-Th1 | D3 | 10 | 4 | 90 | B | 2/2 | 68/68 | 35/35 | Spastic R3/3,L3/3 | 12 | 0 | 377 | 31 | 290 | 32 | – | 7/6 |
| P26 | M | 38 | Th12 | D7 | 10 | 4 | 75 | A | 12/12 | 88/88 | 88/88 | Low | 12 | 0 | 462 | 39 | 400 | 42 | – | 7/6 |
| P27 | F | 39 | Th12 | D12 | 10 | 3 | 45 | A | 0/0 | 74/74 | 72/72 | Low | 12 | 0 | 304 | 25 | 221 | 27 | – | 8/8 |
| P28 | M | 44 | Th12 | L1 | 5 | 3 | 65 | C | 78/78 | 78/78 | 63/67 | Spastic R1+/1+, L1+/1+ | 12 | 0 | 347 | 29 | 166 | 17 | – | 8/8 |
| P29 | F | 27 | Th3 | D1 | 7 | 2 | 40 | A | 0/0 | 42/42 | 40/40 | Spastic R3/3,L3/3 | 12 | 0 | 450 | 37 | 306 | 26 | – | 8/8 |
| P30 | F | 18 | Th12-L1 | L1 | 5 | 3 | 65 | B | 6/6 | 78/78 | 78/78 | Low | 12 | 0 | 359 | 30 | 280 | 41 | – | 7/7 |
| P31 | F | 21 | Th11-L1 | D10 | 4 | 3 | 75 | B | 0/0 | 72/72 | 64/64 | Low | 12 | 0 | 387 | 32 | 272 | 17 | – | 7/7 |
| P32 | F | 27 | Th7 | D7 | 7 | 3 | 60 | B | 0/0 | 82/82 | 52/52 | Spastic R3/3,L3/3 | 12 | 0 | 237 | 20 | 114 | 12 | – | 8/8 |
| P33 | M | 49 | Th7-9 | D10 | 2 | 2 | 55 | C | 15/15 | 72/82 | 64/64 | Spastic R3/3,L3/3 | 12 | 0 | 222 | 19 | 138 | 16 | – | 8/8 |
| P34 | M | 41 | Th6-7 | D7 | 2 | 3 | 75 | A | 1/1 | 64/64 | 57/57 | Spastic R1/1,L1/1 | 12 | 0 | 411 | 34 | 340 | 33 | – | 8/8 |
| P35 | M | 30 | Th8-9 | D8 | 3 | 3 | 55 | A | 0/0 | 58/60 | 58/58 | spastic R2/2,L0/2 | 12 | 0 | 437 | 36 | 285 | 14 | – | 8/8 |
| mean ± SD | 12 | 0 | 409 ± 100 | 34 ± 8 | 300 ± 100 | 28.8 ± 11.0 | ||||||||||||||
AIS, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (LT, light touch; PP, pin-prick), MAS, Modified Ashworth Scale before/after training for both right (R) and left (L) sides. Previous experience of SCES refers to ∼2–3 weeks of SCES (∼1 h per day) in the supine position, ∼1 year prior to the study, to activate the spinal locomotor networks. Previous experience of EXO refers to advanced EXO-walkers (practice for ∼6–12 months) with no experience in SCES. Previous experience of “EXO, SCES” refers to experience in both SCES and EWT ∼1 year prior to this study. We marked in bold changes in neurological indicators (AIS) and in the Hauser Ambulation Index after training. *Patient (P12) was excluded from calculating the max non-stop walk (marked by the asterisk) because of his outstanding personal results (outlier).