The combined effects of controlled breathing techniques and ventilatory and upper extremity muscle exercise on cardiopulmonary responses in patients with spinal cord injury

This study investigated the effects of controlled breathing techniques and ventilatory and upper extremity muscle exercise on cardiopulmonary and metabolic functions and exercise tolerance in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The design of the study was prospective and was a before–after trial. Twenty patients with SCI were included in the study. Resting pulmonary functions were assessed spirometrically. Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses to maximum exercise were determined with an electronically braked arm crank ergometer. The expired gases during this exercise were collected and analysed using a computerized gas analysis system. Patients with SCI participated in a 6-week ventilatory and upper extremity muscle exercise program for 1 h, three times per week. At the end of the exercise program, we observed significant improvement in spirometric values, peak oxygen uptake, time to fatigue, peak power output and minute ventilation compared with pre-training values for the patients.