Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of hot spring hydrotherapy and routine rehabilitation on spasticity of patients with incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 25 patients with incomplete thoracic SCI were divided into hydrotherapy group (n=15) and control group (n=10). The hydrotherapy group received both routine rehabilitation and hydrotherapy，and the control group only underwent routine rehabilitation．They were evaluated with Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) before and after treatment. Results There was a significant reduction on MAS in both the groups after treatment (P<0.01), and it was more in the hydrotherapy group (P<0.05). Conclusion The hot spring hydrotherapy can facilitate the release of spasticity after incomplete thoracic SCI.

Key words: hydrotherapy, incomplete thoracic spinal cord injury, spasticity