title: Disc pressure measurements in para- and tetraplegic patients. A study of of mobilization and exercise in para- and tetraplegic patients.
abstract: The intradiscal lumbar pressure was measured in 10 patients with para- or tetraplegia and in one normal subject. The pressure was registered both in the horizontal position and during tilting on a table, during the performance of a standardized exercise program for the upper extremities, as well as during cough, during abdominal strain and while the subjects were being turned from the supine to the lateral position. The increase in pressure during the tilting to an angle of +30 degrees, and mostly to +50 degrees was less than the maximum pressure change during the exercises to which an immobilized patient with acute unstable fracture of the spine, was exposed daily, such as being turned, performing respiratory exercises and muscular training for the upper extremities. Provided fixation was secured with a belt, patients with unstable fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine maybe treated with a "more active immobilization" tilting them in the bed even during the acute stage. Forward flexion exercises in the shoulder joints with hand weights produced a greater increase of the intradiscal pressure than did abduction exercises with the corresponding load. Spasticity produced a considerable increase in intradiscal pressure.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000503:physiopathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*