Effects of body weight supported treadmill training on cardiac and pulmonary functions in the patients with incomplete spinal cord injury

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Soyupek, Feray^{a; *} | Savas, Serpil^a | Öztürk, Önder^b | İlgün, Erdem^a | Bircan, Ahmet^b | Akkaya, Ahmet^b

Affiliations: [a] Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Isparta, Turkey | [b] Suleyman Demirel University, School of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Isparta, Turkey

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Feray Soyupek, Hızırbey Mah. 1537 sok. Bahçesaray konutları B blok Daire 9, Isparta, Turkey. Tel.: +90 246 2112518; Fax: +90 246 2372762; E-mail: feraysoyupek@yahoo.com

Abstract: We aimed to investigate the effects of body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on cardio-pulmonary functions and on depression in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight subjects (2 female, 6 male) with incomplete SCI participated in this study. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and resting pulmonary function parameters were obtained from each subject at baseline and after BWSTT. The training programme was scheduled five times per week for six weeks. The psychological status was evaluated by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The post-BWSTT HR value was lower than the pre-training HR value (p< 0.05). In comparison of pre- and post-BWSTT pulmonary parameters, there were only significant improvement in FVC and IC (p< 0.05). The mean BDI score was lower after BWSTT compared to before BWSTT value. As a conclusion, 6 weeks BWSTT had positive effect on heart rate and limited effect on pulmonary functions. There was an improvement in depression level of the SCI subjects.

Keywords: Spinal cord injury, body weight supported, cardio-pulmonary

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2009-0237

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 213-218, 2009