Article

Objective: To develop statistical models to predict lung function and respiratory
muscle strength from personal and lesion characteristics of individuals with
motor complete spinal cord injury. Design: Cross-sectional, multi-centre cohort
study. Subjects: A total of 440 individuals with traumatic, motor complete spinal
cord injury, time post-injury >/= 6 months, lesion level C4-T12, underwent
measurements of lung function and respiratory muscle strength. Methods:
Prediction models for lung volumes and peak inspiratory and expiratory muscle
strength were calculated. Using multi-level regression models, the effects of
personal characteristics (gender, age, height, body mass) and lesion
characteristics (time post-injury and lesion level) were determined. Results:
Positive predictors of lung function parameters were: male gender, younger age,
greater height, greater body mass and lower lesion level. For maximal inspiratory
muscle strength, male gender, younger age, greater body mass and lower lesion
level were significant positive predictors, whereas for maximal expiratory muscle
strength, male gender, younger age, longer time post-injury and lower lesion
level were positive influencing parameters. Conclusion: In contrast to predictive
models for able-bodied individuals, lung function parameters of persons with
spinal cord injury are influenced by body mass and lesion level. Maximal
expiratory muscle strength improves with longer time post-injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS