title: Experiences of decreased lung function in people with cervical spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present aim was to explore and describe experience of decreased lung function among people with cervical spinal-cord injury (CSCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three people with CSCI with a lesion between levels C4 and C8 entered the study. Qualitative content analysis was used. A semi-structured interview guide was constructed with the main focus on experience of symptoms related to decreased lung function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experience related to decreased lung function was limitations in breathing function, the ability to cough and voice function. Individual self-management strategies were described in relation to these limitations. The overarching theme throughout the interviews was that although the limitations were in most cases significant compared to the situation before injury, they were not necessarily experienced or referred to as a problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breathing function, the ability to cough and voice function were perceived as limited in most of the present participants with CSCI compared to before the injury. Most had adapted to the situation and had developed their own strategies for handling the limitations. However, these limitations did not only become normal for the individuals because of compensatory strategies, these limitations were usually experienced as a problem not to speak of.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. malin.nygren-bonnier@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nygren-Bonnier
authors.forename: Lise-Lotte
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Normi
authors.forename: Brita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klefbeck
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Biguet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*