Figure 3

The total number of sequences of hindlimb steps performed by spinal rats during 4 weeks of treadmill walking training starting 14 days after complete spinal cord transection. At least two consecutive steps performed alternatively on both hindlimbs were classified as a sequence and taken into account for further analysis. The results obtained by six spinal trained rats are illustrated, except for the 4th week of training, when one animal was excluded from further training due to foot injury. A. Each bar represents the mean ± SEM obtained by a single animal in consecutive weeks of training. The progress in locomotor capability evaluated for weekly averaged data was significant (Sign test; p < 0.01). B. The number of step sequences of individual animals, analyzed day by day, increased but this non-monotonic progress was non-significant in all but one rat (the Sign test, p values are shown on the right side of the Figure).