RMT in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Respiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is an involvement of the spinal cord, a nerve cord protected by the spine and extends from the base of the brain to the lumbar region. The spinal cord lesion causes complete or incomplete paralysis of voluntary mobility and absence, partial or total, of any sensitivity below the affected area; In addition, it also involves the lack of control over the sphincters of urination and intestinal evacuation, disorders of sexuality and fertility, alterations of the Vegetative Nervous System and risk of suffering other complications not less important as: bedsores, spasticity, kidney processes, ...

The cervical and dorsal cord injury severely affects respiratory function due to paralysis and deterioration of the respiratory muscles. Several types of respiratory muscle training (RMT) have been described to improve respiratory function for people with SCI in the literature.

Despite the relatively small number of studies included in this review, the meta-analysis of the pooled data indicates that RMT would be effective in increasing respiratory muscle strength and also lung volumes for people with SCI.

More research is needed to obtain functional results after EMR, such as dyspnea, cough efficacy, respiratory complications, hospital admissions due to respiratory complications and quality of life.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of acute spinal cord injury from C5 to T11 (AIS A-B)
• No tracheotomy user or invasive mechanical ventilation.
• Age between 18 years - 75 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not wanting to participate in the study.
• Not meet inclusion criteria
• Cognitive or psychiatric disorder that does not allow you to participate in the study.