Why is inspiratory muscle training used?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Shannon Sproule | Published: 21 November 2017 | Updated: ~
Cervical and thoracic spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis or weakness of muscles of the neck, chest, and abdomen that are important for breathing and coughing. This can cause breathing problems that can contribute to shortness of breath, fatigue, and a need for mechanical ventilation.
Depending on the level of injury of the SCI, some of the muscles of breathing may still be able to be controlled. In some cases, strengthening these muscles can help to compensate for weakness in other muscles and improve breathing ability.
Inspiratory muscle training is used to strengthen the muscles that can be controlled to improve independent breathing ability. It may also be used to help prevent medical complications related to breathing and coughing problems, such as lung infections like pneumonia.
Who benefits from inspiratory muscle training?
Every person is unique, and how much inspiratory muscle training will benefit any individual depends on the characteristics of their SCI and their unique life circumstances. That being said, in general, inspiratory muscle training is considered most beneficial for people with injuries in the mid-cervical to mid-thoracic spinal cord. These types of injuries tend to have breathing problems that could benefit from inspiratory muscle training and also have muscles available to train. People with upper cervical SCI usually have greater impairment of the breathing muscles that often requires more extensive breathing support instead, such as ongoing mechanical ventilation.