Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training on Baroreflex Sensitivity, Respiratory Function, and Serum Oxidative Stress in Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

respiratory complications are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). We examined the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) in patients with acute cervical SCI.

High-intensity home-based RMT can improve pulmonary function and endurance and reduce breathing difficulties in patients with respiratory muscle weakness after injury. It is recommended for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.

this prospective trial enrolled 44 adults with acute cervical SCI, of which twenty received RMT and twenty-four did not receive RMT. Respiratory function, cardiovascular autonomic function, and reactive oxidative species (ROS) were compared. The experimental group received 40-min high-intensity home-based RMT 7 days per week for 10 weeks. The control group received a sham intervention for a similar period. The primary outcomes were the effects of RMT on pulmonary and cardiovascular autonomic function, and ROS production in individuals with acute cervical SCI.

significant differences between the two groups in cardiovascular autonomic function and the heart rate response to deep breathing (p = 0.017) were found at the 6-month follow-up. After RMT, the maximal inspiratory pressure (p = 0.042) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) (p = 0.006) improved significantly, while there was no significant difference in the maximal expiratory pressure. Significant differences between the two groups in tidal volume (p = 0.005) and the rapid shallow breathing index (p = 0.031) were found at 6 months. Notably, the SF-36 (both the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summaries) in the RMT group had decreased significantly at the 6-month follow-up, whereas the clinical scores did not differ significantly (p = 0.333) after RMT therapy. Conclusions: High-intensity home-based RMT can improve pulmonary function and endurance and reduce breathing difficulties in patients with respiratory muscle weakness after injury. It is recommended for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury.