Abstract 4: Improvement of Scoliosis and Pulmonary Function After Resistive Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether scoliosis and pulmonary function can be improved by resistive inspiratory muscle training in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with scoliosis. Design: Matched case-control study, before and after trial. Setting: Hospital affiliated with university. Participants: 46 patients with SCI with scoliosis were assigned to the experimental group (n=23) or to the control group (n=23). Intervention: Patients in the experimental group participated in an 8-week resistive inspiratory muscle training program for 15 minutes twice daily. But patients in the control group did not undergo resistive inspiratory muscle training. Main Outcome Measures: Before the training and at the end of 8-week training, scoliotic angles were measured by Cobb’s method. Pulmonary functions were evaluated by measuring vital capacity (VC), tidal volume (Vt), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP). Scoliotic angles and parameters of pulmonary function were analyzed and compared between 2 groups before and after training. Results: Scoliotic angles were significantly improved after training in the experimental group (P<.05), but not in the control group. VC, Vt, MIC, FEV1, MIP, and MEP were significantly improved after training in the experimental group (P<.05), but not in the control group. In the experimental group, the improvements of pulmonary functions after training were related to the improvements of scoliotic angles (P<.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that scoliosis and pulmonary function can be improved by regular resistive inspiratory muscle training in patients with SCI with scoliosis.