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Brooks Research Seminar Series: Kids STEP Study: Recovery of Walking after Pediatric SCI

Brooks Research Seminar Series continued on May 6th, 2009 with a presentation titled: Kids STEP Study: Recovery of Walking after Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Twenty nine of Brooks physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, nurses, psychologists and administration gathered in the Brooks Center Research Lab to listen to Dr. Andrea Behrman, PhD, PT Associate Professor & Research Investigator University of Florida and Emily Fox, DPT, MHS, NCS, Research Coordinator discuss the Kids Step Research Study, spinal cord injuries and some treatment interventions for enhancing walking.

Dr. Behrman began the lecture with a brief history of spinal cord injury rehabilitation and shared some interesting photos on past compensatory strategies and techniques. She played some intriguing videos of some of the first research using locomotor training on animals with spinal cord injuries. From some of this early work in the animal models, came the idea that the spinal cord might actually do “something” independently from the brain.

Dr. Behrman and Emily described in detail the history of locomotor training as a therapeutic intervention for enhancing walking recovery after neurologic injury, specifically spinal cord injury. The journey of one young boy with an incomplete spinal cord injury from a gun shot wound was shared. This young man story sparked the development of the Kids STEP study (KSS). The Kids STEP Study (KSS) is investigating walking recovery in children with severe, incomplete spinal cord injury. The KSS aims to identify neural pathways associated with walking function and recovery after spinal cord injury and to identify that may benefit or respond to interventions such as Locomotor Training.

During the last portion of the presentation, locomotor training and current gait training techniques were compared and contrasted at length. Open discussion and questions about the various techniques were encouraged. The Brooks staff had some fantastic ideas and stimulating questions which the Kids STEP team is hoping to take back to the lab and learn from.

If you have questions pertaining to the Kids STEP study, or would like more information on enrollment please contact the Project Coordinator, Emily Fox, DPT, MHS, NCS at ejfox@phhp.ufl.edu or (352) 273-5278.

Check back for details on the next scheduled research seminar series event to be held in the Brooks Center Research Lab from 3:30 to 5:00. Ceus will be provided. 

For additional information on the LEAPS Project or to hear a mothers perspective click here.

      The Research Seminar Series are held on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm in the Brooks Center Research Gym-located in the Health Care Plaza. Ceus for various disciplines are offered.  For more information on any of the seminars, please contact Jodi Morgan, M. A., CCC-SLP at (904) 345-8987.