Effect of Functional Strength Training on People with Spinal Cord Injury.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of functional training on muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) indicators in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The sample consisted of five adult individuals of both sexes with SCI who did 12 weeks of functional training twice a week. Anaerobic power (ANP), movement agility, muscle strength and QoL were analysed before and after the training using the Wingate, zigzag, hand dynamometer and medicine ball throw tests and the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire. The results showed an improvement in peak ANP (p = .043), relative peak ANP (p = .043), average ANP (p = .042) and relative average ANP (p = .043), as well as in peak agility (p = .043) and overall QoL (p = .043). It may be concluded that 12 weeks of functional training was sufficient to bring about improvements in ANP and agility with direct effects on enhanced functional capacity in people with SCI. The training programme implemented also helped to improve overall QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]