Objective: To evaluate the effects of suspension training on balance function in patients with lumbar spinal cord injury.

Methods: Thirty-five eligible patients with lumbar spinal cord injury were enrolled from June 2014 to September 2015 and treated in Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine. All these patients had received surgical operation for lumbar spinal cord injury. The 35 patients were randomly divided into suspension training group (n = 17, treated with routine neurotrophic therapy, routine rehabilitation and suspension training for 12 weeks) and routine rehabilitation group (n = 18, treated with routine neurotrophic therapy and routine rehabilitation for 12 weeks). The balance function of the two groups was assessed by time up and go test (TUG) and Berg balance scale before rehabilitation treatment and at the 4th, 8th and 12th week of rehabilitation treatment. The changes of balance function between the two groups before and after rehabilitation treatment and between the two groups were compared.

Results: The TUG scores of suspension training group and routine rehabilitation group were significantly lower at the 8th and 12th week of rehabilitation treatment than before rehabilitation (P < 0.01), and the Berg balance scale scores at the 4th, 8th and 12th week were significantly higher than before rehabilitation (P < 0.01). At the 8th and 12th week of rehabilitation treatment, the TUG scores of the suspension training group were significantly lower than those of the routine rehabilitation group (P < 0.05); at the 12th week of rehabilitation treatment, the Berg balance scale score of the suspension training group was significantly higher than that of the routine rehabilitation group (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Suspension training combined with routine rehabilitation has a significant effect on balance function of patients with lumbar spinal cord injury.