Resistive inspiratory muscle training: its effectiveness in patients with acute complete cervical cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if resistive inspiratory muscle training (RIMT) can improve lung function in patients with complete tetraplegia within half a year after trauma. DESIGN: A prospective study. The experimental patients received training with a Diemolding Healthcare Division inspiratory muscle trainer for 15 to 20 minutes per session, twice per day, 7 days a week for 6 weeks. SETTING: Hospital-based rehabilitation units. PATIENTS: Twenty patients who were in their first 6 months of complete cervical cord injury were randomly enrolled into RIMT (10 patients) and control (10 patients) groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Spirometry, lung volume test, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, and modified Borg scale measurements at rest were performed before training and at the end of 6 weeks of training. RESULTS: Most of the pulmonary parameters showed statistically significant improvements within the RIMT and control groups, but the improvements were greater in the RIMT group. In addition, the improvements in total lung capacity, total lung capacity predicted percentage, vital capacity, minute ventilation, forced expiratory volume in 1 second predicted percentage, and the resting Borg scale in the RIMT group showed significantly greater improvement. CONCLUSION: RIMT can improve ventilatory function, respiratory endurance, and the perceived difficulty of breathing in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury within half a year after trauma.     

Effects of air stacking on pulmonary function and peak cough flow in patients with cervical spinal cord injury

[Purpose] This study evaluated the effects of air stacking on pulmonary function and peak cough flow in patients with cervical spinal cord injury. [Subjects] Twenty-six patients were included in the study and were randomized into experimental (n = 14) and control (n = 12) groups. [Methods] Both groups performed therapeutic exercises: the control group performed incentive spirometry, while the experimental group performed 20 repetitions of air stacking exercise twice a day. The training for both groups continued for 5 days a week for 6 weeks. [Results] Forced vital capacity and peak cough flow increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the controls. All within-group variables in the experimental group differed significantly at 6 weeks compared to baseline, while in the control group only Forced vital capacity differed significantly at 6 weeks compared to baseline. [Conclusion] Air stacking exercise significantly improved pulmonary function and peak cough flow in patients with a cervical spinal cord injury.Key words: Air stacking exercise, Cervical spinal cord injury, Respiratory rehabilitation     

简易自主呼吸练习对高位脊髓损伤患者肺功能的影响②

目的探讨简易自主呼吸练习对高位脊髓损伤患者肺功能的影响。方法将24例男性颈髓损伤患者分为对照组(n=14)和治疗组(n=10)。两组均采用常规康复治疗,治疗组另增加简易自主呼吸练习。8周后比较两组肺功能情况。结果 8周训练后两组最大肺活量(VCmax)、用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒最大呼气量(FEV1)、呼气高峰流量(PEF)和最大通气量(MVV)占预计值的百分比均较训练前有所提高(P<0.05);治疗组肺功能情况较对照组好(P<0.05)。结论康复治疗能够改善高位脊髓损伤患者的肺功能情况,简易自主呼吸练习改善效果更好。     

不同平面脊髓损伤患者膈肌运动和肺功能的相关分析

目的:探讨不同平面脊髓损伤患者的肺功能和膈肌运动的特点及其影响因素。方法:选取我院105例脊髓损伤患者进行研究,分析颈、胸、腰段各平面脊髓损伤患者的肺功能指标,包括第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、用力呼气肺活量(FVC)、最大通气量(MVV)、肺活量(VC)和膈肌运动功能(右侧隔肌平静呼吸和用力呼吸时的运动幅度),并对肺功能与性别、年龄、吸烟史、损伤平面、残损分级、ASIA感觉/运动评分、膈肌运动幅度的相关性进行分析。结果:不同平面脊髓损伤肺功能指标差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);不同平面脊髓损伤平静呼吸和深呼吸时右侧膈肌运动幅度、ASIA感觉/运动评分差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);回归分析显示肺功能下降与损伤平面、残损分级、膈肌运动、ASIA感觉/运动评分和性别、吸烟史具有相关性(P0.05)。结论:脊髓损伤患者(特别是颈髓损伤患者)均存在不同程度肺功能障碍,而损伤平面、残损分级、ASIA感觉/运动评分和膈肌运动是影响脊髓损伤患者肺功能的重要指标。     

人工膨肺技术在颈髓损伤气管切开患者肺康复中的应用

目的 探讨人工膨肺技术在颈髓损伤气管切开患者肺康复中的应用效果。 方法 将2017年1月—2019年9月收治的66例颈髓损伤并行气管切开的患者按SPSS系统产生区组随机数字表分为试验组和对照组,每组33例,试验组在雾化吸入、震动排痰、腹部挤压后吸痰等常规肺康复护理的基础上增加人工膨肺技术,对照组采用常规肺康复护理。比较实施肺康复前和实施肺康复4周后两组的肺活量、第1秒用力呼气容积、最大呼气量以及干预期间两组的肺不张发生率。 结果 干预4周后,试验组的肺活量、第1秒用力呼气容量、最大呼气量分别是（4.17±0.70） L、（3.86±0.94） L、（266.67±36.70） L均高于对照组的（3.06±0.73） L、（2.91±0.72） L、（221.73±19.53） L,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;试验组、对照组的肺不张发生率分别为3.03%、24.24%,两组比较,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论 人工膨肺技术应用于颈髓损伤气管切开患者中能够有效提高患者的肺功能,增加患者肺部的顺应性,减少患者肺不张、肺塌陷的发生,明显改善患者肺康复的效果。     

Expiratory function in complete tetraplegics: study of spirometry, maximal expiratory pressure, and muscle activity of pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles.

Respiratory complications, such as pneumonia and atelectasis, are major causes of mortality and inhibit rehabilitation programs in spinal cord injury. Tetraplegic patients cannot cough enough to clear their sputum because of expiratory muscle weakness, mainly of the abdominal muscles. However, tetraplegics are still able to activate some muscles during coughing. Some tetraplegics, even though they cannot contract the abdominal muscles, can cough effectively. It was supposed that some accessory expiratory muscles were activated during coughing in tetraplegics. We, therefore, studied the peak expiratory flow rate, expiratory muscle strength, and the activities of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles in 11 complete tetraplegics. Peak expiratory flow rate was measured by spirometry. Expiratory muscles strength was assessed by maximal expiratory mouth pressure; muscle activity was assessed by means of the root mean square voltage obtained by surface electromyography. The results showed that peak expiratory flow rate, maximal expiratory mouth pressure, and root mean square of these two muscles were correlated with neurological level. Peak expiratory flow rate was correlated with peak expiratory flow rate. Peak expiratory flow rate was correlated with the root mean square voltage of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles. It was supposed that these two muscles were activated as accessory expiratory muscles and play an important role in expiratory function in tetraplegic patients.     

Pulmonary function testing in spinal cord injury: effects of abdominal muscle stimulation.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation to paralyzed abdominal muscles during pulmonary function testing (PFT) of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Ten male subjects with anatomical level of SCI between C5-T7 were studied. Subjects performed PFTs with and without electrical stimulation delivered to the abdominal muscles. Subjects with the lowest percentage of predicted expiratory volumes and flows demonstrated the greatest improvement when electrical stimulation was delivered during forced expiration. The overall increases seen in percent of predicted for the study sample were 23 percent for forced vital capacity (FVC), 16 percent for forced expiratory flow in 1 s (FEV1), and 22 percent for peak expiratory flow rate (PEF). Contractions of paralyzed expiratory muscles in response to electrical stimulation during the performance of PFT maneuvers can significantly improve FVC, FEV1, and PEF in some individuals with SCI.     

Respiratory dysfunction and management in spinal cord injury

Respiratory dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in spinal cord injury (SCI), which causes impairment of respiratory muscles, reduced vital capacity, ineffective cough, reduction in lung and chest wall compliance, and excess oxygen cost of breathing due to distortion of the respiratory system. Severely affected individuals may require assisted ventilation, which can cause problems with speech production. Appropriate candidates can sometimes be liberated from mechanical ventilation by phrenic-nerve pacing and pacing of the external intercostal muscles. Partial recovery of respiratory-muscle performance occurs spontaneously. The eventual vital capacity depends on the extent of spontaneous recovery, years since injury, smoking, a history of chest injury or surgery, and maximum inspiratory pressure. Also, respiratory-muscle training and abdominal binders improve performance of the respiratory muscles. For patients on long-term ventilation, speech production is difficult. Often, practitioners are reluctant to deflate the tracheostomy tube cuff to allow speech production. Yet cuff-deflation can be done safely. Standard ventilator settings produce poor speech quality. Recent studies demonstrated vast improvement with long inspiratory time and positive end-expiratory pressure. Abdominal binders improve speech quality in patients with phrenic-nerve pacers. Recent data show that the level and completeness of injury and older age at the time of injury may not be related directly to mortality in SCI, which suggests that the care of SCI has improved. The data indicate that independent predictors of all-cause mortality include diabetes mellitus, heart disease, cigarette smoking, and percent-of-predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second. An important clinical problem in SCI is weak cough, which causes retention of secretions during infections. Methods for secretion clearance include chest physical therapy, spontaneous cough, suctioning, cough assistance by forced compression of the abdomen ("quad cough"), and mechanical insufflation-exsufflation. Recently described but not yet available for general use is activation of the abdominal muscles via an epidural electrode placed at spinal cord level T9-L1.     

腹带固定对完全性颈髓损伤患者呼吸功能康复的效果观察

目的:探讨腹带固定对颈髓损伤患者呼吸功能康复的影响。方法:对44例恢复期完全性颈髓损伤患者随机分为两组,观察组26例,对照组18例。观察组应用腹带固定以促进其呼吸功能的恢复,对照组不采用腹带固定,其余护理措施相同。4周后观察并比较两组患者肺活量、肺部感染的发生率。结果:观察组对改善颈髓损伤患者呼吸功能、预防肺部感染的发生有较好的实际意义。结论:对于恢复期完全性颈髓损伤患者可以应用腹带固定促进呼吸系统功能的恢复。     

The Effects of Aquatic Exercise on Pulmonary Function in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aquatic exercise on pulmonary function of patients with spinal cord injury. [Subjects] The subjects were randomly allocated to an aqua group (n=10) and a land group (n=10). [Methods] Both groups trained for 60 minutes, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function was assessed by measuring the forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow rate (FER), force expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁) and force expiratory volume at one second/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC). [Results] Following the intervention, the aqua group showed significant changes in FVC, FER, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC. The land group showed only significant differences FER. [Conclusion] The results of this study suggest the effects on the aqua group were significantly higher than those on the land group in patients with spinal cord injury.Key words: Spinal cord injury, Aqua, Pulmonary function     

呼吸训练对颈胸段脊髓损伤患者呼吸功能的影响

目的探讨呼吸训练对颈胸段脊髓损伤患者呼吸功能的影响。方法选取我院2018年3月至2019年9月收治的68例颈胸段脊髓损伤患者作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法将其分为观察组(34例,常规治疗和护理+常规康复训练+呼吸训练)和对照组(34例,常规治疗和护理+常规康复训练)。比较两组患者的膈肌移动度、肺功能指标及临床效果。结果干预后,两组的膈肌移动度均增高,且观察组高于对照组(P<0.05)。干预后,两组的呼气峰流速(PEF)、用力肺活量(FVC)、最大通气量(MVV)均增高,且观察组明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。观察组的临床治疗总有效率明显高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论呼吸训练能有效改善颈胸段脊髓损伤患者的膈肌移动度和肺功能指标,从而改善呼吸功能。     

系统性呼吸训练对颈髓损伤患者膈肌运动及肺功能的影响

目的：探讨系统性呼吸训练对颈髓损伤患者膈肌运动及肺功能的影响。方法：将60例颈髓损伤患者随机分为观察组和对照组,每组各30例。对照组给予常规的康复训练和健康宣教,观察组在常规康复的基础上增加系统性呼吸训练,观察周期为6周,对比2组患者的肺功能指标、膈肌运动幅度及呼吸困难程度。结果：治疗6周后,2组患者的用力肺活量(FVC)、第一秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)、峰值呼气流速（PEF）、每分钟最大通气量（MVV）及膈肌运动幅度均较治疗前有明显提高（P<0.01）;且观察组的FVC、FEV1、PEF、MVV值及膈肌运动幅度均显著优于对照组（P<0.05）。2组患者的Brog呼吸困难评分从第3周均较第1周明显降低（P＜0.05）,且从第4周开始,观察组较对照组降低更明显（P＜0.05）。结论：系统性呼吸训练联合常规康复训练可以有效改善颈髓损伤患者的膈肌运动及肺功能,在临床工作中应重视呼吸功能训练。     

歌唱训练对颈髓损伤患者呼吸功能的影响

目的:探讨歌唱训练对颈髓损伤患者呼吸功能的影响,以期丰富该类患者的康复护理手段,减少呼吸道并发症,提高患者的生活质量.方法:33例颈髓损伤患者随机分为对照组18例和观察组15例.对照组患者给予常规康复训练联合常规呼吸训练,观察组患者在此基础上进行4周歌唱训练.治疗前后对患者进行用力呼气肺活量(FVC)、第一秒用力呼气量...     

颈髓损伤早期急诊手术的可行性及疗效评价

目的:探讨颈髓损伤早期急诊减压内固定手术的可行性及疗效。方法:回顾性分析2000年6月～2007年6月我科治疗的颈髓损伤患者68例,按是否进行急诊手术分为急诊手术组22例和非急诊手术组46例。所有患者均采集一般资料、神经功能状况(入院时和最后一次随访时)、术后并发症、重症监护时间和住院时间等临床资料,并进行统计学分析。结果:2组患者在一般资料、受伤节段、手术方式、随访时间及入院时神经功能状况等方面均无统计学差异;最后一次随访时2组相比神经功能无显著性差异,但急诊手术组的并发症发生率、重症监护时间和住院时间均低于非急诊手术组。结论:颈髓损伤后早期急诊手术可行、安全,有利于减少术后并发症,但对神经功能的恢复无明显帮助。     

雾化吸入后配合腹部冲击法排痰用于颈髓损伤病人的效果观察

[目的]探讨雾化吸入后配合腹部冲击法协助颈髓损伤病人排痰的效果。[方法]将64例颈髓损伤病人随机分为实验组和对照组。对照组实施常规排痰措施,实验组除常规排痰措施外,雾化吸入后配合腹部冲击法排痰。比较两组病人排痰后肺部听诊情况、病人主观咳痰能力、医院内获得性肺炎和肺不张发生率。[结果]实验组排痰后肺部听诊情况的改善、病人主观咳痰能力明显优于对照组(P<0.01);实验组病人医院内获得性肺炎及肺不张的发生率低于对照组(P<0.05)。[结论]雾化吸入后配合腹部冲击法能提高颈髓损伤病人排痰的效果。     

呼吸功能训练辅助治疗吸入性损伤患者的效果观察

目的评估呼吸功能训练辅助治疗吸入性损伤患者的效果。方法选取近3年来收治的烧伤面积小于50%全身体表面积、合并吸入性损伤的患者40例,根据吸入性损伤程度随机分为训练组(n=20)、对照组(n=20),两组患者均按常规综合治疗,对训练组加予腹式缩唇呼吸、有效咳嗽排痰及吸气训练器训练,观察记录两组患者气管套管拔除管时间及肺功能改善情况。结果训练组患者拔管时间显著提前,最大通气量、脉搏氧饱和度、第1秒肺活量、氧分压均有不同程度提高。结论呼吸功能训练辅助治疗吸入性损伤可缩短气管套管留置时间,改善患者肺功能。烧伤科护理人员需重视对吸入性损伤患者进行呼吸功能训练,掌握时机与时限,以增进疗效,增强患者自我效能。     

Patients with acute spinal cord injury benefit from normocapnic hyperpnoea training.

BACKGROUND: Functional loss of respiratory muscles in persons with spinal cord injury leads to impaired pulmonary function and respiratory complications. In addition, respiratory complications are responsible for 50-67% of the morbidity in this population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of normocapnic hyperpnoea training in acute spinal cord injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients were randomized between control (sham) and an experimental normocapnic hyperpnoea training group. Vital capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, respiratory complications and symptoms were evaluated before, after 4 and 8 weeks of training and after 8 weeks follow-up. RESULTS: Maximal voluntary ventilation, respiratory muscle strength and endurance improved significantly in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Improvements in vital capacity tended to be different from the control group at 8 weeks of training. The Index of Pulmonary Dysfunction decreased after 4 weeks of training and respiratory complications were reported less frequently in the experimental group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Normocapnic hyperpnoea training in patients with spinal cord injury improved respiratory muscle strength and endurance. Respiratory complications occurred less frequently after training.     

单呼吸计数法在脊髓损伤肺功能评价中的应用

目的 观察单呼吸计数(SBC)与脊髓损伤患者肺功能测试指标之间的相关性,评价其对脊髓损伤肺功能水平的预测价值。 方法 选取2018年10月至2019年2月门诊及住院的脊髓损伤患者42例,分为颈段(n = 24)和胸段(n = 18),分别完成SBC评估和标准肺功能测试。将SBC结果分别与用力肺活量(FVC)、第1秒用力呼气量(FEV1)、第1秒呼气容积比用力肺活量(FEV1/FVC)、慢呼气肺活量(EVC)及各指标占正常预计值的百分比(%pred)进行相关性分析。根据FEV1%pred分级标准构建接受者工作特征(ROC)曲线。 结果 SBC结果与总体(r= 0.723~0.760, P< 0.01)、颈段(r= 0.549~0.657, P < 0.01)和胸段( r= 0.623~0.847, P < 0.01)的FVC、EVC及预计值百分比均呈正相关,还与总体和颈段的FEV1及预计值百分比呈正相关( r = 0.622~0.760, P< 0.01)。不同界值下ROC曲线下面积为0.864~0.941。 结论 在脊髓损伤患者中,SBC测试与标准肺功能测试多个指标之间相关性较好,可用于辅助评估脊髓损伤患者肺功能水平。     

Time-courses of lung function and respiratory muscle pressure generating capacity after spinal cord injury: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the time-courses of lung function and respiratory muscle pressure generating capacity after spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Multi-centre, prospective cohort study. SUBJECTS: One hundred and nine subjects with recent, motor complete spinal cord injury. METHODS: Lung function and respiratory muscle pressure generating capacity were measured at first mobilization, at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and one year after discharge. Lung function was measured in all 109 subjects, and 55 of these performed additional measurements of respiratory muscle pressure generating capacity. Trajectories of respiratory muscle function for different lesion level groups were assessed by multi-variate multi-level regression models. RESULTS: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and maximal inspiratory muscle pressure generating capacity significantly increased during and after inpatient rehabilitation. Forced inspiratory volume in 1 sec, peak inspiratory flow, peak expiratory flow and maximal expiratory muscle pressure generating capacity increased only during inpatient rehabilitation, but not thereafter. Increasing lesion level had a negative effect on all measured lung function parameters, as well as on maximal inspiratory and expiratory muscle pressure generating capacity. CONCLUSION: Respiratory function improved during inpatient rehabilitation, but only forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec and maximal inspiratory muscle pressure generating capacity further improved thereafter. In particular, expiratory muscle function and subjects with tetraplegia should be screened and trained regularly.     

Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation using cervical range of motion exercise in stroke patients with tracheostomy tubes

[Purpose] In this study, stroke patients who were intubated with tracheostomy tubes performed cervical range of motion exercises, and changes in their pulmonary and coughing functions were examined. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve stroke patients who were intubated with tracheostomy tubes participated in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the control group (n=6), which did not perform cervical range of motion exercises, or the experimental group (n=6), which did perform exercises. [Results] With regards to forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and peak cough flow rate before and after the exercises, the control group did not show any significant differences while the experimental group showed statistically significant increases in all three parameters. [Conclusion] The results indicate that cervical range of motion exercises can effectively improve the pulmonary function and coughing ability of stroke patients intubated with tracheostomy tubes, and that cervical range of motion exercises can help in the removal of tracheostomy tubes.Key words: Pulmonary rehabilitation, Stroke, Cervical range of motion exercise