Early rehabilitation exercises in the prevention of osteoporosis in patients after spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the function of early rehabilitation exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis in patients after spinal cord injury. Methods 26 paraplegia patients caused by traumatic spinal cord injury were randomly divided into test group and control group (13 cases for each group). Cases in test group received early rehabilitation exercises and cases in control group were treated with routine nursing about traumatic spinal cord injury. Patient's serum concentrations of ionized calcium, ALP,and urine concentrations of calcium, creatinine were performed at before and after exercise (into the group and 4 months later) and bone mineral density in lumbar vertebrae and proximal femur were measured with regularly X-ray plain radiograph at the same vertebral body. Results Compared with the period before exercise, the lumbar spine and proximal femur trabecular bone mineral density measured showed decreases in both groups but had not significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05) after exercise (4 months). Differences between the two groups had not significant difference either (P ＞ 0. 05). Compared with the period before exercise, serum alkaline phosphatase had not significant difference (P ＞ 0. 05) after exercise, while serum calcium, urinary Ca/Cr and urinary hydroxyproline had significant difference (P ＜ 0. 05); In control group, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium, urinary Ca/Cr and urinary hydroxyproline had not significant difference (P ＞0. 05). Serum calcium, urinary Ca/Cr and urinary hydroxyproline had significant difference (P ＜ 0. 05) after exercise (4 months) between the two groups except serum alkaline phosphatase (P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusions The results demonstrate that early positive rehabilitation exercise can prevent ostcoporosis after spinal cord injury. Key words: Spinal cord injury; Osteoporosis; Rehabilitation