Effects of glossopharyngeal insufﬂation on pulmonary function in cervical cord injury patients

Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2021 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-021-00390-w · Published: February 10, 2021

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury often leads to respiratory problems. This study investigates whether a breathing technique called glossopharyngeal insufflation (GI) can improve lung function in people with cervical spinal cord injuries. The study involved participants with cervical cord injuries who received either standard respiratory rehabilitation or respiratory rehabilitation plus GI. The results showed that GI improved lung function, chest expansion, dyspnea and chest tightness. The findings suggest that GI is a helpful technique to improve breathing and lung health for individuals with cervical cord injuries. It can help them breathe deeper and cough more effectively.

Study Duration

4 weeks

Participants

31 cervical cord injured (ISNCSCI A and B) subjects

Evidence Level

Quasi experimental

Key Findings

1
Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group versus the control group after 4 weeks in IVC, inspiratory capacity, FVC, FEV1, MEF 75%, PEF, and tidal volume.
2
The experimental group also showed significant benefits in chest expansion at the fourth intercostal and xiphoid process, as well as reduced dyspnea and chest tightness.
3
The most interesting ﬁnding was that there was a signiﬁcant improvement in most of the parameters of PFT, chest expansion, dyspnea, and chest tightness in the experimental group as compared to the control group after 4 weeks duration.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the effects of glossopharyngeal insufﬂation (GI) on pulmonary function in cervical cord injury subjects. Results showed an improvement in chest expansion and pulmonary function parameters after GI training. The increase in chest expansion after GI training emphasizes the rise in pulmonary function parameters, leading to a stretching effect on the respiratory system. This helps maintain and increase lung volumes in tetraplegics and prevents severe pulmonary complications. GI enables the subject to force an increased amount of air into the lungs, which limits the tightness of the rib cage and maintains pulmonary compliance, leading to a decline in chest tightness and dyspnea due to improved PFT parameters.

Practical Implications

Clinical Practice

GI can be integrated into respiratory rehabilitation programs to improve lung function in cervical cord injury patients.

Respiratory Management

GI can help maintain and increase lung volumes, preventing pulmonary complications in tetraplegics.

Symptom Management

GI can reduce chest tightness and dyspnea, improving the overall respiratory comfort of patients.

Study Limitations

1
The study was non blinded, which may have introduced bias in the results.
2
The same individual performed measurements on subjects and controls, thus inherent bias cannot be excluded.
3
The study did not investigate the impact of GI on quality of life, cough, secretion clearance, and cardiovascular parameters.

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