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PNA RESEARCH CASE LIBRARYNeurological Rehabilitation · 2026

The Integration of Aerobic Exercise in Rehabilitation of a Subacute Inpatient With Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report

Lorenzo D’Orio, Adriana Semprini, Elisa Barbiani, Francesco Giuseppe Materazzi

Spinal Cord Series and Cases · 2026 · DOI: 10.1038/s41394-026-00736-2

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THE CASE IN PLAIN ENGLISH

What happened?

A 25-year-old person with C6 AIS B tetraplegia was admitted for rehabilitation in the subacute phase after a diving accident. The case examines how aerobic training was integrated with conventional inpatient rehabilitation rather than treating exercise capacity as separate from neurological rehabilitation.

Clinical findings

  • The patient had a C6 neurological level spinal cord injury classified AIS B.
  • The report describes a subacute inpatient rehabilitation phase following an earlier period of intensive rehabilitation.
  • Clinical stability and monitoring for complications were important considerations when planning exercise.

Rehabilitation described in the report

  • Aerobic training was integrated into the conventional therapy programme during inpatient rehabilitation.
  • The original report should be consulted for the specific training mode, intensity, progression and monitoring details; these are not assumed in this summary.

Reported outcomes

  • The report presents a single-patient experience of integrating aerobic training into conventional rehabilitation; outcomes should be interpreted from the full article and not generalized as a universal protocol.

Clinical lessons to consider

  • Consider cardiorespiratory conditioning as part of comprehensive SCI rehabilitation when clinically appropriate.
  • Screen for autonomic, cardiovascular and other SCI-related risks and monitor the individual response to exercise.
  • Adapt training to neurological level, functional capacity and the person's medical stability.

Limitations — what this case cannot tell us

  • Single case report; it cannot establish efficacy or an optimal aerobic-training prescription for all people with SCI.
  • The patient's clinical context and safety screening are essential when interpreting the programme.

Original source

Lorenzo D’Orio, Adriana Semprini, Elisa Barbiani, Francesco Giuseppe Materazzi. “The Integration of Aerobic Exercise in Rehabilitation of a Subacute Inpatient With Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Report.” Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2026. DOI: 10.1038/s41394-026-00736-2

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This page is an independently written educational summary, not a reproduction of the full paper. Check the original article for complete methods, outcome tables, references and licensing.