The purpose of this case report is to describe the effects of BWSTT on cardiorespiratory fitness in 2 patients recovering from severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Both patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents and were studied after admission to a postacute residential treatment program.
Each patient received 2 to 3 sessions of BWSTT per week. Aerobic capacity was measured while they ambulated on a treadmill without body-weight support before and after BWSTT. Both patients' submaximal and peak responses improved. For patient 1 and patient 2, total treadmill work performed increased 134% and 53%, respectively. Peak oxygen uptake increased 24% for patient 1 and 16% for patient 2. Estimated cardiac stroke volume (oxygen pulse) increased 32% and 26% for patient 1 and patient 2, respectively.
The observations made on these 2 patients suggest that BWSTT has the potential to favorably change cardiorespiratory capacity after TBI.
Physical Therapy, 2008, 88(1), 77-87