Exploring The Relationship Between Locomotor Training And Bowel And Bladder Outcomes In Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury: A Scoping Review And Feasibility Study.
Abstract
This thesis explored the relationship between locomotor training and bowel and bladder function in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Study 1 was a scoping review that identified and summarized literature describing the relationship between locomotor training and bowel/ bladder outcomes in individuals with SCI and identified research gaps in the existing literature on bowel/bladder outcomes during locomotor training. Results of the scoping review suggested there is evidence of a positive relationship between locomotor training and bowel/bladder outcomes, however, most of that evidence was not collected using clinical outcome measures. Study 2 evaluated the feasibility of using the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)-Quality of Life (QOL) v1.0 Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction Scales to assess bowel/bladder changes in people with SCI participating in inpatient or outpatient physical rehabilitation. Results suggested that the SCI-QOLv1.0 Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction Scales were deemed mostly feasible to use by both inpatients and outpatients.