Physical activities promote recovery from spinal cord injury in patients

Ji-Chao WANG; Jun-Peng ZHU; Xue-Ping WU

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Benefits of healthy people participating in physical activity are valued by governments, organizations and individuals, but the benefits of spinal cord injury (SCI) to physical activity are neglected. With the increase in the incidence of SCI, participating in physical activity to keep fit is recommended for SCI patients. OBJECTIVE: To review the relevant literatures on physical activity and health promotion of SCI at home and abroad, and systematically summarize the benefits of physical activity to SCI, so as to provide reference for participating in physical activity. METHODS: The first author recruited the Web of Science and the PubMed databases with the keywords of "spinal cord injury, physical activity, sport, exercise, health, fitness" in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Physical activity has a positive effect on cardiovascular health, functional independence, quality of life, muscle strength, psychological and social adaptation in SCI patients, and the impact on bone density needs a further investigate. Physical activity holds a positive effect on the health of SCI patients, and it is hoped that SCI patients will actively carry out physical activity to improve or maintain health status. SCI patients exhibit individual differences, so in the use of physical activity to promote health, it is necessary to make individualized sports program to obtain satisfactory effectiveness.