BACKGROUND:Few exercise interventions have been designed to improve the lower body strength of individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Such improvements could improve balance and upright mobility. OBJECTIVE:To determine the effects of a 6-week resistance training program using body weight squats (BWS) on measures of balance and upright mobility in participants with SCI. Design and setting: A test-retest design with one within subjects' factor was utilized. Testing and training occurred in an exercise facility used by participants with SCI. Participants: Three males and one female with incomplete SCI participated in the study. Two of the males and the female were classified as ASIA functional category C and the other male was classified as functional category D. Intervention:Participants trained 3d/wk for 6 weeks using 3 sets of 10 reps of BWS. outcome Measures: The three outcome measures included a modified Timed Up and Go Test (mTUG), the Berg Balance Scale, and the Sit to Stand Test. RESULTS: All participants completed the training, attending a minimum of twice per week, without injury or complaint of pain. Each participant demonstrated marked improvement in all outcome measures. The large inter-participant heterogeneity in functional ability necessitated that the investigators compare the pre- intervention scores to the post- intervention scores for each of the participants individually. Participant 1, who was unable to take a single step in the mTUG test, was able to take several steps with the use of a walker on the post-test. His score on the Berg Balance test improved from 7 to 19 and on the Sit to Stand test he was able to rise from his chair at a much lower starting angle and with much less dependence on the use of his arms. Participant 2 improved his time on the mTUG test by 31 seconds (25% improvement). His score on the Berg Balance test improved from 11 to 14. Participant 3 improved her time on the mTUG test by 12 seconds (14% improvement). On the Berg Balance test her score improved from 12 to 21 on the posttest. On the Sit to Stand test she was able to rise out of her chair relying much less (18% improvement) on the use of her arms. Participant 4 improved his time on mTUG test by 18 seconds (20% improvement). His score on the Berg Balance test improved from 25 to 43. On the Sit to Stand test he improved from initially having to rise from the chair using his arms to rising from his chair without any arm assistance. CONCLUSION:Resistance training using BWS can improve lower body strength in individuals with incomplete SCI which in turn can improve their balance and upright mobility.