Physical rehabilitation techniques for spinal cord injury: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing condition resulting in disability, with motor and sensory impairments that impact multiple areas of life and reduce quality of life. Physical rehabilitation can address these limitations, but there is a need to evaluate which interventions are most effective and the outcomes they produce.
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of physical rehabilitation interventions for individuals with complete and incomplete SCI at levels C5–T12, and to inform clinical practice.
Method: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and EBSCOhost identified peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2024.
Results: Sixteen studies (n = 327) were included. Effective interventions included functional electrical stimulation, robotic and exoskeleton-assisted training, gait training, upper extremity exercise, balance training, and corporal suspension and pendulum exercises. Reported outcomes included improvements in aerobic capacity, muscle adaptations, gait parameters, cardiopulmonary function, functional capacity and secondary complications.
Conclusion: Physical rehabilitation plays a key role in improving functional outcomes in individuals with SCI. However, no single intervention addresses all aspects of recovery, highlighting the need for an individualised approach.
Contribution: This review demonstrates that a range of exercise-based rehabilitation strategies can enhance functional outcomes in individuals with SCI.