OBJECTIVE: To compare efficacy of a regimen combining mental practice (MP) with overground training with the efficacy of a regimen comprised of overground training only on gait velocity and lower extremity motor outcomes in individuals with chronic (> 12 months post injury), incomplete, spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Randomized controlled, single blinded, study SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation laboratories located in the Midwestern and Western United States PARTICIPANTS: 18 subjects with chronic, incomplete SCI INTERVENTIONS: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive: (a) overground training only (OT), occurring 3 days/week for 8 weeks; or (b) OT augmented by MP (MP+OT), during which randomly assigned subjects listened to a mental practice audio recording directly following OT sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects were administered a test of gait velocity as well as the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), Spinal Cord Injury Independence Measure (SCIM), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) on 2 occasions before intervention, 1 week after intervention, and 12 weeks after intervention. RESULTS: A significant increase in gait velocity was exhibited across subjects at both 1 week post-therapy (p = 0.0046) and at 12 weeks post-therapy (p = 0.0056). However, no differences were seen in intervention response at either 1 or 12 weeks post intervention among subjects in the MP+OT versus the OT groups. CONCLUSION: Overground training was associated with significant gains in gait velocity, and that these gains were not augmented by further addition of mental practice.

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