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Zoghi et al. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2019;6:14 Neuroimmunology
DOI: 10.20517/2347-8659.2019.03 and Neuroinflammation

Original Article Open Access

Brain motor control assessment post intensive
whole-body exercise vs. upper body exercise after

spinal cord injury

Maryam Zoghi , Mary Galea 2
1
1 Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Prosthetics and Orthotics, LaTrobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.
2 Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.

Correspondence to: Dr. Maryam Zoghi, Department of Physiotherapy, Podiatry, and Prosthetics and Orthotics, LaTrobe
University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia. E-mail: m.zoghi@latrobe.edu.au

How to cite this article: Zoghi M, Galea M. Brain motor control assessment post intensive whole-body exercise vs. upper body
exercise after spinal cord injury. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2019;6:14.
http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-8659.2019.03

Received: 8 Jul 2019 First Decision: 23 Sep 2019 Revised: 24 Nov 2019 Accepted: 5 Dec 2019 Published: 17 Dec 2019
Science Editor: Swapan K. Ray Copy Editor: Jing-Wen Zhang Production Editor: Tian Zhang

Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of voluntary movements in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) post
intensive whole-body training vs. upper body training with brain motor control assessment (BMCA).

Methods: Twelve neurologically intact participants and 18 patients with SCI participated in this study as part of a multi-centre
randomised controlled trial. All participants received 12 weeks training (three times per week), which comprised trunk, upper and
lower limb exercises and locomotor training and functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling in whole-body training group
and an upper body strength and fitness program for upper body training group.

Results: Generalised linear model analysis showed significant effect of the main effect of the Task (P < 0.001) on the similarity
index of voluntary movement patterns but not on the other factors or the interactions between them (P > 0.05). Some participants
showed significant improvement in muscle strength post 12 weeks training; however, this improvement was not reflected in the
pattern of muscle activation which was captured by BMCA.

Conclusion: BMCA is a valuable objective assessment tool that could add resolution to the clinical evaluation of patients with SCI
post different therapeutic techniques.

Keywords: Brain motor control assessment, spinal cord injury, discomplete

© The Author(s) 2019. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use,
sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as long
as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license,
and indicate if changes were made.

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