title: Waist and neck enlargement after quadriplegia.
abstract: Changes in waist and neck size in quadriplegic patients after paralysis, noted clinically, were assessed systematically. Twenty quadriplegic men, aged 60 +/- 13 years (mean +/- 1 SD) and 20 neurologically intact men, aged 63 +/- 17 years, selected by absence of weight gain, were questioned about changes in their waist and shirt collar sizes since the onset of paralysis (20 +/- 13 years) or during the previous 20 years for control subjects. Waist size expanded 7.0 +/- 0.3 inches for quadriplegic and 1.7 +/- 1.7 inches for control subjects (p < 0.001). Changes in neck size of 0.7 +/- 1.1 inches for quadriplegic and 0 +/- 0.7 inches for control subjects were found (p < 0.02). We conclude that quadriplegia is often followed by increased waist and neck size. These changes may relate to the impaired breathing mechanisms in quadriplegia.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Injury Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Brockton, MA 02401.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Frisbie
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000502:physiology