Abstract: Objective To observe the effects of comprehensive rehabilitation treatment on ambulation and balance function in patients with heavy brain injury when the starting time of rehabilitation was delayed.Methods Twelve heavy brain-injured patients received comprehensive rehabilitation treatment,including ambulation and balance training.They were evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Assessment Scale,Functional Independence Measure(FIM)Ambulation Function Scale,Berg Balance Scale and Modified Barthel Index(MBI).One-way ANOVA was used to assess the functional status of patients during the course of treatment.Results After 3～6 months of treatment,All the scores of the assessment items above scales in all of the patients increased significantly compared with those at first evaluation(P<0.05).Conclusion The heavy brain-injured patients can still acquire contented ambulation and balance function after accepting comprehensive rehabilitation,though the starting time of rehabilitation is delayed.

Key words: heavy brain injury, rehabilitation training, ambulation, balance