Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of reciprocating gait orthosis on walking ability and activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with C₆～T₆ spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods 20 cases with C₆～T₆ SCI and according with type A and type B of ASIA standard received rehabilitation therapy, including training of muscle power, cardiopulmonary function, transferring mobility, ADL, bladder function, etc., before assembling the reciprocating gait orthosis, and additional gait training after fixing orthosis. The timed walking function assessment (6-min walking test and timed 10 meters walking test), gait analysis, Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Functional Independence Measure (FMI) were used to assess pre- and post-training.Results The ADL ability of all cases improved obviously after equipping reciprocating ambulation orthosis, the walking ability also improved (P＜0.05). The mean timed 10 meters was 99.21±75.24 s, mean 6-min walk test was 41.71±29.38 m. From all patients, 14 cases achieved practicability walking ability, 6 cases achieved domestic walking ability.Conclusion The reciprocating gait orthosis combined with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy has effect on walking ability and ADL of patients with C₆～T₆ SCI.

Key words: reciprocating gait orthosis, spinal cord injury, walking, activities of daily living