Effects of health management combined with aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function in patients with spinal cord injury

Purpose: Cardiopulmonary dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury (SCI) seriously affects the rehabilitation and daily life of patients. This paper aims to demonstrate that health management combined with aerobic exercise can effectively influence the effect of SCI on the cardiopulmonary function of patients. Methods: One hundred and twenty-four SCI patients were included and divided into a study group (SG) or a control group (CG) according to different rehabilitation training modes. Patients in SG received health management combined with aerobic exercise, while those in CG adopted routine aerobic exercise. Cardiopulmonary function, spinal cord function, daily living indexes (Barthel indexes), scores of negative emotions (anxiety and depression), and quality of life (QOL) were compared between the two groups. Results: The spinal cord function and Barthel indexes improved notably in both groups after treatment, but compared with CG, the spinal cord and cardiopulmonary indicators in SG were better. The anxiety and depression scores were lower. The Barthel indexes and QOL scores were higher after treatment. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that health management combined with aerobic exercise can effectively influence the effect of SCI on cardiopulmonary function of patients, which can improve the QOL and alleviate negative emotions of patients.