Purpose: We evaluated the effects of walking with reciprocating gait orthosis on bladder function and upper urinary tract status in spinal cord injured patients.
Materials and methods: Seven patients using reciprocating gait orthosis underwent urodynamics before and during walking. Abdominal ultrasound was performed before and after urodynamics.
Results: Baseline urodynamics showed detrusor areflexia in 3 patients and hyperreflexia in 4. During walking urodynamics revealed hyperreflexia in 6 patients with worse uninhibited detrusor contraction amplitude (38.2 +/- 41.2 versus 73.7 +/- 44.4 cm. water, p = 0.006) and duration (2.1 +/- 2.1 versus 6.8 +/- 5.3 minutes, p = 0.023). After walking ultrasound demonstrated bilateral pyelectasia in 2 patients.
Conclusions: Spinal cord injured patients using reciprocating gait orthosis have worse urodynamic measurements and upper urinary tract disorders during walking. They require close urological followup.