title: [Rehabilitation therapy in early stage following spinal cord injuries].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of rehabilitation therapy in early stage following spinal cord injury on the patients' activities of daily living (ADL) and functional independence measure (FIM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two patients with spinal cord injuries were divided into early rehabilitation group (n=48) and control group (n=44) according to the timing of the rehabilitation therapy. Rehabilitation assessment of the patients with Barthel index and FIM was carried out before and 6 months after the rehabilitation therapy respectively for comparison. Different rehabilitation regimens were adopted for specific clinic stage of the patients, lasting for a total of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barthel index and FIM score were all improved after the rehabilitation therapy in both of the two groups, but the improvements were more significant in early rehabilitation group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early rehabilitation treatment is crucial for patients with spinal cord injuries in that it improves the patients' motor function, ADL and functional independence after the injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Longgang Central Hospital, Shenzhen 518116, China.
authors.forename: Ai-wen
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jian-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*