title: Does locomotor training improve pulmonary function in patients with spinal cord injury?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a locomotor training (LT) combined rehabilitation program with a rehabilitation-only program on pulmonary function in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients by investigating spirometric analyses of the patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation center in Ankara, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients (40 male, 12 female) with SCI enrolled in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups: the first group (group A) received both LT and a rehabilitation program and the second group (group B) received only the rehabilitation program for 4 weeks. The LT program was prescribed as three 30-min sessions per week. Pulmonary function was evaluated spirometrically in both groups before and after the rehabilitation program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The spirometric values of the SCI patients, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow rate and vital capacity (VC) and VC%, increased significantly with LT in the first group (all P<0.05). Maximum voluntary ventilation values increased significantly in both groups (both P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that LT is effective for improving pulmonary function in SCI patients. We also highlight the useful effects of LT, which are likely the result of erect posture, gait and neuroplastic changes that prevent potential complications in SCI patients.
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Tiftik
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: N K O
authors: NK
authors: Gökkaya
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: F Ü
authors: FÜ
authors: Malas
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Tunç
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Yalçın
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Ekiz
authors: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Erden
authors: Yıldırım Beyazıt University Medical School, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Akkuş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005105:Expiratory Reserve Volume; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008448:Maximal Expiratory Flow Rate; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013147:Spirometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity