Those with quadriplegia can exercise their inspiratory muscles to reduce respiratory complications — important results from a clinical trial by Dr Claire Boswell-Ruys and the team at NeuRA — especially in light of the current pandemic.
Respiratory complications remain a leading cause of death in people with acute and chronic quadriplegia. In particular, inspiratory muscle strength has been identified as the best predictor of the likelihood of developing pneumonia in these people.
Sixty-two adults with quadriplegia participated in a double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. Exercising respiratory muscles twice daily for 6 weeks was shown to increase respiratory muscle strength and improve lung function.