Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rhythmic Movement Training on the Improvement of Sensory-Motor Performance and Quality of Life in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury

Introduction: Spinal cord injury can influence the quantitative and qualitative parameters of movement and quality of life. Objective: The present research was conducted aiming to investigate the effectiveness of rhythmic movement training on the improvement of sensory-motor performance and quality of life in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. Method: The current research was semi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury who were members of the Association of Spinal Cord Injury in Tehran in 2023. Thirty patients were selected voluntarily and were evaluated after rhythmic movement training for twelve 60-minute sessions, 3 sessions per week, using black-box tests, gross motor skills, two-point discrimination, and health and quality of life assessment questionnaires. The results were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and SPSS statistical software version 22. Results: The obtained F value indicated that rhythmic movement training significantly affected the improvement of sensory-motor skills, including (sensory skills, gross motor skills, fine motor skills) and quality of life dimensions (physical independence, movement control, mental independence and communication, social behavior, emotional stability, and dynamic range) in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: Movement training establishes good opportunities to actively absorb different sensory inputs from the environment. Such targeted training can in fact affect the improvement of sensory-motor performance and quality of life in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury.