Abstract: Objective: To examine the effects of an anti-obstructive breathing training progam on respiratory function and diaphragm mobility in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Methods: A total of 80 patients with cervical spinal cord injury admitted to a tertiary grade A hospital in Hainan province from 2019 to 2021 were recruited. Patients were assigned into the experimental group (n=40) or the control group (n=40) randomly. Patients in the control group received routine rehabilitation training, while patients in the observation group received the resistance breathing training program. The respiratory function index, diaphragm mobility, Borg score, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Besides, the clinical efficacy and complications of the two groups were also observed. Results: The total clinical effective rate of the experimental group (95.00%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (75.00%) (P<0.05). In the experimental group, the MVV, FVC, FEV1 and diaphragm mobility were significantly higher than those in the control group. Moreover, the Borg score, dyspnea, disease impact and mobility score were significantly lower than those in control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: The anti-obstructive breathing training program can effectively improve the respiratory function and diaphragmatic mobility of patients with cervical spinal cord injury, maintain patients' respiratory patency, and improve patients' quality of life. The program is safe and worthy of clinical promotion.

Key words: resistance breathing training; cervical spinal cord injury; respiratory function; diaphragm mobility; quality of life