title: Inspiratory muscle training in quadriplegic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether inspiratory muscle training can increase strength and endurance of these muscles in quadriplegic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight quadriplegic patients (7 males and 1 female) with injury to the lower cervical spine (segments C4-C7) were submitted to inspiratory muscle training with a threshold inspiratory muscle trainer adjusted to 30% of MIP. The training sessions were carried out with the patients in a sitting position, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Endurance time, MIP, MEP and FVC were determined at baseline, week 4 and week 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the mean baseline value, there was an increase in MIP, measured in the sitting position, at weeks 4 and 8 (-83.0 +/- 18.9 cmH2O vs. -104.0 +/- 19.4 cmH2O and -111.3 +/- 22.7 cmH2O). There was an increase in MEP, also in the sitting position, at week 4 (from 36.8 +/- 8.1 to 42.6 +/- 8.8 cmH2O). There was an improvement in FVC at week 4 (from 2.1 +/- 0.8 to 2.5 +/- 0.6 L, representing an increase of 24 +/- 22%). Although there was an increase in endurance (sitting) at week 8, the difference was not significant in comparison with the baseline value (29.8 +/- 21.0 vs. 35.9 +/- 15.5 min, an increase of 173 +/- 233%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quadriplegic patients can benefit from training at low loads (30% of MIP), which can improve inspiratory muscle strength, FVC and expiratory muscle performance.
authors.affiliation: Triângulo University Center School of Physiotherapy, Uberlândia, Brasil.
authors.forename: Janne Marques
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Ada Clarice
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
authors.forename: Cristina de Matos
authors.initials: Cde M
authors.lastname: Boaventura
authors.forename: Hugo Celso
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult