Objective To explore the effects of isokinetic training on muscle endurance and the ambulatory capacity of patients with incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury ( SCI ) . Methods Sixty patients were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group, each of 30. Both groups were given conventional rehabilitation, while the treatment group was additionally provided with isokinetic muscle strength and muscle endurance training for 3 months. The endurance ratio ( RO) of the quadriceps and hamstrings, the mean power frequency of the rectus femo-ris (RF-MPF) and the biceps flexor cruris (BF-MPF), and distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were evaluated before and after the treatment. An index of functional community ambulation was also compared be-tween the 2 groups. Results After the treatment significant differences were observed in all of the measurements compared to before the treatment for both groups. The average RO improvement of the quadriceps and hamstrings, the BF-MPF, the RF-MPF and the 6MWT distance of the treatment group were all significantly higher compared with the control group. After the treatment, 25 patients of the treatment group could demonstrate functional community ambula-tion, significantly better than that of 20 of the control group. Conclusion Isokinetic training can improve muscle endurance and the walking capacity of persons with an incomplete lumbar spinal cord injury.

Animals ; B7-H1 Antigen ; immunology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferons ; immunology ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; immunology ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; Up-Regulation ; immunology