Author/Editor		Karčnik, T; Zupan, A; Erjavec, T; Kralj, A; Šavrin, R; Škorjanc, T; Benko, H; Obreza, P
Title		Electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles for increasing cough efficacy in tetraplegic patients
Type		članek
Source		In: Proceedings of the 5th Vienna international workshop on functional electrostimulation: basics, technology, clinical application; 1995 Aug 17-19; Vienna. Vienna: University of Vienna, Department of biomedical engineering and physics,
Publication year		1995
Volume		str. 209-12
Language		eng
Abstract		In tetraplegic patients there is a restrictive pulmonary impairment with reduced clearing of secretions by cough. The most common complications are respiratory infections and consequentially atelestasis. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the electrical stimulation of abdominal muscles in the early phase of expirium and adequate respiratory muscle training can improve the respiratory capacities and efficiency of cough of tetraplegic patients. Five tetraplegic patients were included in the study. Every patient had three periods of treatment, each lasting one month: inspiratory muscle training, expiratory muscle training and without training. Two respiratory tests (RT) - forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) - were measured before and at the conclusion of each monthly period in four different ways. The measured RT were larger after the period of respiratory muscle training and also the combination of voluntary effort with either manual assistance or FES has proven to be efficient as well. The conclusion of the study is that both respiratory muscle training and electrical stimulation of the abodiminal muscles can improve the cough in tetraplegic patients.
Descriptors		QUADRIPLEGIA COUGH ELECTRIC STIMULATION THERAPY ABDOMINAL MUSCLES