Effect of massed practice and somatosensory stimulation on the upper extremity function in patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury

Impaired hand function significantly limits the activities of daily living of individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective: Our aim was to determine the effect of massed practice (MP) versus MP with somatosensory stimulation (SS) on upper extremity function in patients with incomplete cervical SCI. Patients and methods: This study included 25 patients with incomplete cervical SCI divided into three groups. Group I: 10 patients received MP training. Group II: 10 patients received SS besides the massed practice. Group III: 5 patients received traditional rehabilitation program. Results: Our results revealed that Group II patients demonstrated a highly significant greater increase in motor score post-treatment when compared with pre-treatment values than group III (p 0.001). Group I demonstrated a significantly greater increase in motor score than group III (p 0.05). There was a statistically non significant difference between the three groups as regards the the change in the post-treatment as compared to the pre-treatment values (p 0.05) of the light touch and pinprick scores. Group II patients demonstrated a significantly greater increase in pinch grip strength than group I and group III (p 0.05). WMFT and JTHFT showed a significant decrease in time after treatment in groups I and II (p 0.05) more than patients in group III, but the difference was of no statistical significance. Conclusion: These results suggest that MP may be useful to improve upper extremity function in individuals with SCI; especially when combined with SS.