Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of wheelchair sports
on respiratory muscle strength and the thoracic mobility of individuals with
spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Thirty male subjects with chronic spinal cord injury
(American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A) took part in the
study and were divided into four groups: sedentary subjects with quadriplegia
(S-QUAD, n = 7), wheelchair rugby athletes with quadriplegia (A-QUAD, n = 8),
sedentary subjects with paraplegia (S-PARA, n = 6),
and wheelchair basketball
athletes with paraplegia (A-PARA, n = 9). The main outcome measures were maximal
inspiratory and expiratory pressure and the respiratory coefficients at the
axillary and xiphoid levels. RESULTS: A-QUAD group presented values significantly
higher for all respiratory variables studied compared with the S-QUAD group. No
significant differences in any of the respiratory variables were observed between
S-PARA and A-PARA groups. There was a negative correlation between spinal cord
injury level and respiratory variables for the S-QUAD and S-PARA groups. There
were positive correlations in the A-QUAD group between time of training and
maximal inspiratory pressure (adjusted R = 0.84; P = 0.001) and respiratory
coefficients at the axillary level (adjusted R = 0.80; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS:
Physical training seems to have a positive influence on respiratory muscle
strength and thoracic mobility, especially in subjects with quadriplegia.

Langue : ANGLAIS