Effect of Static Abdominals Training and Incentive Spirometer in Improvement of Pulmonary Function and Abdominal Strength in Spinal Cord Injury Patients- A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Following spinal cord injury, muscles below the level of injury develop variable degrees of disuse atrophy. Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit reduced lung volumes and flow rates as a result of respiratory muscle weakness. Many studies were done to strengthen diaphragm and abdominals using abdominal weights and dynamic curl up. Isolated training of abdominals using pressure biofeedback has been done by very few authors in patients with traumatic paraplegia. Methodology: Traumatic paraplegics between T9-T12 were randomly selected. The selected subjects were randomly assigned in to static abdominals and incentive spirometry group. 15 subjects in each group. Subjects in first group receives static abdominal exercise using pressure biofeedback in crook lying while other group practiced expiratory muscle training using incentive spirometer. Both groups receive conventional physiotherapy exercises. Training was given for 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Results: Result of the study suggested that both the static abdominals and incentive spirometry group had a significant improvement in pulmonary functions (FEV1, VC, MVV) and static abdominal strength in patients with traumatic paraplegia after treatment for 6 weeks. However, the incentive spirometry group showed greater change as compared to static abdominals. Conclusion: Incentive spirometery training brings about more improvement in pulmonary function than static abdominals while static abdominals using pressure biofeedback leads to increase in strength of abdominal muscles compares to incentive spirometry.