Walking and Balance Post-TBI

Inclusion Criteria:

1. greater than 3 months post-TBI (as defined by INTRuST criteria) and no longer
receiving care as an inpatient in a rehabilitation facility.

2. the ability to follow simple three-step commands;

3. the ability to communicate presence and location of pain;

4. the ability to sit independently without back or arm support for five minutes;

5. the ability to stand with support of a straight cane, quad cane, or walker for 2
minutes;

6. the ability to walk 10 meters with maximum 1 person assisting;

7. presence of motor deficits (determined by clinical assessment of paresis);

8. age ≥ 18;

9. ability to give consent or have a acceptable surrogate capable of giving consent on
subject's behalf

Exclusion Criteria:

1. unable to ambulate 500 feet prior to TBI;

2. history of serious chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or oxygen dependence;

3. severe weight bearing pain;

4. lower-extremity amputation;

5. non-healing ulcers on the lower-extremity;

6. renal dialysis or end stage liver disease;

7. legal blindness or severe visual impairment;

8. severe arthritis or orthopedic problems that limit passive ranges of motion of lower
extremity (knee flexion contracture of -10°, knee flexion Range of Motion < 90°, hip
flexion contracture > 25°, and ankle plantar flexion contracture > 15°);

9. history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months

10. uncontrollable diabetes with recent weight loss, diabetic coma, or frequent insulin
reactions;

11. severe hypertension with systolic greater than 200 mmHg and diastolic greater than
110 mmHg at rest;

12. intracranial hemorrhage related to aneurysm rupture or an arteriovenous malformation
(hemorrhagic infarctions will not be excluded);

13. history of severe uncontrolled seizure disorder;

14. other neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's Disease;

15. pain that is scored greater than 5 out of 10 on a visual analog scale;

16. any factor contraindicative to MRI examination (e.g., cardiac pacemaker/
defibrillator, pregnancy, aneurysm clips, insulin pump, metal fragments in the body).

17. any other health problems judged by their screening physician to put the client at
significant risk of harm during the study