The Effect of the Swimming Exercise on Functional Recovery after Experimental Contusive Spinal Cord Injury in the Rats

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to see the effect of swimming exercise in the rats after experimental contusive spinal cord injury. METHOD: Twenty six Sprague-Dawley rats (weight, 300 to 350 g) were divided into control (n=9) and experimental swimming groups (n=17). With the Spinal Cord Dropping Device (NYU, U.S.A.), contusive injury to the spinal cord was induced at the eighth thoracic level in both groups. Rats of the experimental group put to swim for 5 minutes a day during the second week and then swimming times a day were increased in one number to each week. But the other ten rats were remained without swimming exercise as the control. Functional recovery of the hind limb was evaluated by the inclined board plane test, the Bassoe Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scales and histological findings of injured spinal cord. RESULTS: 1) Upward maximal angles of the inclined plane test were significantly greater in experimental group than control group after 10 days post-injury (p<0.05). 2) BBB scores were higher in experimental group than control group at 14 days after injury (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that swimming applied from the early phase after spinal cord injury be beneficial in the early recovery of motor function.