OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of body weight-supported treadmill training and body weight-supported overground training for improving gait and strength in people with traumatic incomplete tetraplegia. DESIGN: Assessor blinded randomized trial. SETTING: Rehabilitation institute of a tertiary care teaching hospital in India. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen participants with traumatic motor incomplete tetraplegia and within two years of injury. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomised to one of two groups: body weight-supported overground training on level ground and body weight-supported treadmill training. Both groups received 30 minutes of gait training per day, five days a week for eight weeks. In addition, both groups received regular rehabilitation which included flexibility, strength, balance, self care and functional training. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (/20 points) and the secondary outcome was the Lower Extremity Muscle Score (/50 points). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant between group differences in the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (mean difference 0.3points; 95% CI -4.8 to 5.4; p = 0.748) or the Lower Extremity Muscle Score (mean difference 0.2 points; 95% CI -3.8 to 5.1; p = 0.749). CONCLUSIONS: Gait training with body weight-supported overground training is comparable to treadmill training for improving locomotion in people with traumatic incomplete tetraplegia.

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