Better evidence is needed for rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injury

Aim-To present Cochrane Evidence related to rehabilitation of persons with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Methods-The Cochrane Library has been searched for Cochrane Systematic Reviews (CSRs) and Protocols (CPs) addressing the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions in people with SCI. Articles were included if relevant to rehabilitation in SCI and irrespective of a specific intervention or outcome. Key Results ➢ 3 out of 4 CSRs (75%) reported inclusive results ➢ 3 out of 4 CSRs (75%) reported randoomized controlled trials (RCTs): • Of larger sample size (100%); • With long-term follow up (75%); • Of better methodological quality (75%) Conclusions The CSRs performed on rehabilitation related topics in persons with SCI are highly heterogeneous in terms of interventions and outcomes; not recently updated and few compared to other clinical conditions and most of them are inconclusive. New and better RCTs on spinal cord injury are needed and will lay the foundations for the production of new CSRs.