Abstract
From clinical practice and research it is known that breathing exercises have a positive effect in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The purpose of this study was to perform special breathing exercises in persons with SCI and evaluate their effectiveness by using X-ray of lungs and other tests.
Sample consisted of 15 respondents with SCI, 8 men and 7 women, mostly middle-aged and elderly. Intervention program has lasted six months, with the frequency of exercise five times a week, in the range of 20-30 minutes.
The study has included:: 1 ) Chest X-Ray in a sitting position during inhalation and exhalation; 2) chest excursion; 3) determination of forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume during first second (FEV1 ); 4) measurement of respiratory rate. Pretest X-ray showed that the difference in the movement of the lower ribs during inhalation and exhalation was 2-35 mm.
Measurement of chest circumference showed a limitation of chest expansion related to normal values corrected with age and sex. Tetraplegics FVC decreased by 30-50 % compared with the values of healthy population and paraplegics FVC reduced by about 80 %.
Respiratory rate for all respondents with SCI was 13 to 22 breaths / min. After six months, we repeated the tests.
X-ray examination showed that the difference in the movement of the lower ribs during inhalation and exhalation has increased by 49% (6 to 45 mm). Circumference of chest during inspiration increased by 3.5 % and chest circumference during exhalation decreased by 1.27%.
One-second vital capacity increased by 5.68% and forced vital lung capacity by 7.61 %. Respiratory rate decreased on average by 16.22 %.
In this study, by using X-ray and other tests, we have noted the objective influence of breathing exercises on the respiratory muscles in persons with SCI.