Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of rehabilitation therapy at early stage following spinal cord injury on the patients function recovery.Methods88 cases with spinal cord injury were divided into early rehabilitation group(n=50) and control group (n=38) according to the start time of the rehabilitation therapy (within 2 weeks or after 3 months).Rehabilitation assessment of the patients with Barthel index and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was carried out before and 3 months after the rehabilitation therapy respectively.ResultsBarthel index and FIM score all improved after the rehabilitation therapy in two groups, but the improvements were more significant in early rehabilitation group(P<0.01).ConclusionEarly rehabilitation treatment improves the function of patients with spinal cord injuries.

Key words: spinal cord injury, rehabilitation, activities of daily living, Functional Independence Measure