Application of ventilatory strategies to enhance functional activities for an individual with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
This case report describes the benefits of teaching an individual with C6 tetraplegia how to use ventilatory movement strategies during functional activities and to thereby improve her level of independence.


METHODS
The client was a 25-year-old woman with C6 tetraplegia. Her goal was to become independent in 3 functional tasks: leaning forward in her wheelchair, repositioning her feet on her footplates of the wheelchair, and performing a lateral lean pressure relief. She was evaluated performing each task with her own ventilatory strategy, which was a valsalva maneuver. Then, she was taught specific ventilatory strategies for each activity and was re-evaluated to determine if the new strategy increased her ability to perform the task.


RESULTS
This client was unable to perform each activity while using a valsalva maneuver as her self-selected ventilatory strategy. After learning the appropriate ventilatory strategy to use while performing each task, she became independent with each activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians are encouraged to incorporate teaching appropriate ventilatory strategies to a client while the client is performing functional tasks to improve outcomes. Less than 30 seconds is needed to instruct a client in the appropriate ventilatory strategy. Many clients are able to learn ventilatory strategies in a short period of time and therefore improve their ability to perform tasks. This training can be a valuable asset to the current functional training that is needed for a client with tetraplegia.
Henderson
Cathy E
CE
Methodist Rehabilitation Center, Jackson, MS, USA. Chenderson@hotmail.com
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome