Abstract
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a locomotor training (LT) combined rehabilitation program with a rehabilitation-only program on pulmonary function in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients by investigating spirometric analyses of the patients.
Setting:
Rehabilitation center in Ankara, Turkey.
Methods:
Fifty-two patients (40 male, 12 female) with SCI enrolled in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups: the first group (group A) received both LT and a rehabilitation program and the second group (group B) received only the rehabilitation program for 4 weeks. The LT program was prescribed as three 30-min sessions per week. Pulmonary function was evaluated spirometrically in both groups before and after the rehabilitation program.
Results:
The spirometric values of the SCI patients, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow rate and vital capacity (VC) and VC%, increased significantly with LT in the first group (all P<0.05). Maximum voluntary ventilation values increased significantly in both groups (both P<0.05).
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that LT is effective for improving pulmonary function in SCI patients. We also highlight the useful effects of LT, which are likely the result of erect posture, gait and neuroplastic changes that prevent potential complications in SCI patients.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Schilero GJ, Spungen AM, Bauman WA, Radulovic M, Lesser M . Pulmonary function and spinal cord injury. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2009; 166: 129–141.
Galeiras Vazquez R, Rascado Sedes P, Mourelo Fariña M, Montoto Marques A, Ferreiro Velasco ME . Respiratory management in the patient with spinal cord injury. Biomed Res Int 2013; 2013: 168–757.
Postma K, Haisma JA, de Groot S, Hopman MT, Bergen MP, Stam HJ et al. Changes in pulmonary function during the early years after inpatient rehabilitation in persons with spinal cord injury: a prospective cohort study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2013; 94: 1540–1546.
Hicks A, Ginis K . Treadmill training after spinal cord injury: it's not just about the walking. J Rehabil Res Dev 2008; 45: 241–248.
Soyupek F, Savas S, Oztürk O, Ilgün E, Bircan A, Akkaya A . Effects of body weight supported treadmill training on cardiac and pulmonary functions in the patients with incomplete spinal cord injury. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2009; 22: 213–218.
Terson de Paleville D, McKay W, Aslan S, Folz R, Sayenko D, Ovechkin A . Locomotor step training with body weight support improves respiratory motor function in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2013; 189: 491–497.
Sherman MF, Lam T, Sheel AW . Locomotor-respiratory synchronization after body weight supported treadmill training in incomplete tetraplegia: a case report. Spinal Cord 2009; 47: 896–898.
Kirshblum S, Waring W, Biering-Sorensen F, Burns S, Johansen M, Schmidt-Read M et al. Reference for the 2011 revision of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2011 34: 547–554.
American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society. ATS/ERS Statement on respiratory muscle testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2002; 166: 518–624.
Saupe K, Smith C, Henderson K, Dempsey J . Respiratory muscle recruitment during selective central and peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation in awake dogs. J Physiol 1992; 448: 613–631.
Yates B, Jakus J, Miller A . Vestibular effects on respiratory outflow in the decerebrate cat. Brain Res 1993; 629: 209–217.
Cotter L, Arendt H, Jasko J, Sprando C, Cass S, Yates B . Effects of postural changes and vestibular lesions on diaphragm and rectus abdominis activity in awake cats. J Appl Physiol 2001; 91: 137–144.
Davey N, Murphy K, Maskill D, Guz A, Ellaway P . Site of facilitation of diaphragm EMG to corticospinal stimulation during inspiration. Respir Physiol 1996; 106: 127–135.
Ellaway P, Catley M, Davey N, Kuppuswamy A, Strutton P, Frankel H et al. Review of physiological motor outcome measures in spinal cord injury using transcranial magnetic stimulation and spinal reflexes. J Rehabil Res Dev 2007; 44: 69–76.
Bawa P, Hamm J, Dhillon P, Gross P . Bilateral responses of upper limb muscles to transcranial magnetic stimulation in human subjects. Exp Brain Res 2004; 158: 385–390.
Tsao H, Galea M, Hodges P . Concurrent excitation of the opposite motor cortex during transcranial magnetic stimulation to activate the abdominal muscles. J Neurosci Methods 2008; 171: 132–139.
Strutton P, Beith I, Theodorou S, Catley M, McGregor A, Davey N . Corticospinal activation of internal oblique muscles has a strong ipsilateral component and can be lateralised in man. Exp Brain Res 2004; 158: 474–479.
Nowicky A, McGregor A, Davey N . Corticospinal control of human erector spinae muscles. Motor Control 2001; 5: 270–280.
Thomas S, Gorassini M . Increases in corticospinal tract function by treadmill training after incomplete spinal cord injury. J Neurophysiol 2005; 94: 2844–2855.
Harkema SJ . Plasticity of interneuronal networks of the functionally isolated human spinal cord. Brain Res Rev 2008; 57: 255–264.
Linn W, Spungen A, Gong HJ, Adkins R, Bauman W, Waters R . Forced vital capacity in two large outpatient populations with chronic spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2001; 39: 263–268.
Stepp E, Brown R, Tun C, Gagnon D, Jain N, Garshick E . Determinants of lung volumes in chronic spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2008; 89: 1499–1506.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tiftik, T., Gökkaya, N., Malas, F. et al. Does locomotor training improve pulmonary function in patients with spinal cord injury?. Spinal Cord 53, 467–470 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2014.251
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.2014.251
This article is cited by
-
Locomotor-respiratory coupling in ambulatory adults with incomplete spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2022)
-
Effect of repeated locomotor training on ventilatory measures, perceived exertion and walking endurance in persons with motor incomplete spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2020)
-
Effect of overground locomotor training on ventilatory kinetics and rate of perceived exertion in persons with cervical motor-incomplete spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2019)
-
Effects of overground locomotor training on the ventilatory response to volitional treadmill walking in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury: a pilot study
Spinal Cord Series and Cases (2017)
