Objective  To investigate the value of Powerbreath respiratory training instrument in rehabilitation training of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

  Methods  Totally 60 patients with SCI were selected and randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 30 cases in each group. The control group was conducted with routine comprehensive rehabilitation treatment, while the observation group was treated with Powerbreath respiratory training instrument on the basis of the control group. At the time points of hospital admission and 4 weeks after treatment, rest heart rate (RHR), mean arterial blood pressure (MBP), oxygen saturation (SaO₂), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), forced vital capacity (FVC) and the incidence rate of pulmonary infection were measured.

  Results  After 4 weeks of treatment, the RHR and MBP in both groups significantly reduced, but there were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The SaO₂ of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, MIP, PIF and FVC in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, the incidence rate of pulmonary infection in the observation group was 6.67%, which was significantly lower than 23.33% in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Application of Powerbreathe respiratory training instrument is effective in the treatment of SCI patients, which can increase the levels of maximum inspiratory pressure, inspiratory peak flow and forced vital capacity, improve lung function, and reduce the incidence rate of pulmonary infection.