Longitudinal association between respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity

Authors

  • Karin Postma
  • Lonneke Y. Vlemmix
  • Janneke A. Haisma
  • Sonja de Groot
  • Tebbe A.R. Sluis
  • Henk J. Stam
  • Johannes B.J. Bussmann

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1986

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, respiratory muscles, expiratory airflow, cough, longitudinal analysis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the longitudinal association between respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in persons with recent spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Longitudinal analyses. SUBJECTS: Forty persons with recent spinal cord injury and impaired pulmonary function. METHODS: Measurements were performed 4 weeks after the start of rehabilitation, 9 and 17 weeks after the first measurement, and one year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Peak cough flow was measured with a spirometer. Maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), expressed in cmH2O, were measured at the mouth. RESULTS: Both MIP and MEP were significantly positively associated with peak cough flow. After correction for confounders and time 10 cmH2O higher MIP was associated with a 0.32 l/s higher peak cough flow, and a 10 cmH2O higher MEP was associated with a 0.15 l/s higher peak cough flow. The association between MIP and peak cough flow was mainly based on within-subject variance. The association between MIP and peak cough flow was stronger than between MEP and peak cough flow. CONCLUSION: Improvement in respiratory muscle strength is associated with improvement in cough capacity in persons with recent spinal cord injury who have impaired pulmonary function.

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Published

2015-06-03

How to Cite

Postma, K., Vlemmix, L. Y., Haisma, J. A., de Groot, S., Sluis, T. A., Stam, H. J., & Bussmann, J. B. (2015). Longitudinal association between respiratory muscle strength and cough capacity. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 47(8), 722–726. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-1986

Issue

Section

Original Report