Short term effects of abdominal binder on FEV₁ and FVC in patients with spinal cord injury

This study was done in a community based setting to determine whether application of an abdominal binder is beneficial in improving pulmonary function in patients with spinal cord lesions above T₆.

Ten patients with post trauma spinal cord injury (injury level, C₅-T₆) were selected. Subjects who fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the study. The set of patients included in this study constituted the experimental group. Subjects breathed into the spirometer using the mouthpiece and were instructed to hold the mouthpiece tightly and seal lips around it. They were asked to breathe normally a few times followed by taking in a deep breath as much as he can. This was followed with instruction to immediately blow out as hard and as fast as possible and keep breathing out till they could do so no more. Then they were asked to breathe in again. The spirometer digitally displayed the values of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC. According to American Thoracic Society (2003) a minimum of 3 trials were obtained for FEV1, FVC and out of 3 trials the highest value was recorded. Then abdominal binder was applied to the patient and values were obtained again in the same manner and the pre - post readings were compared.

Application of abdominal binder to patients was associated with significant increase in FEV₁ (P < 0.05) and FVC (P < 0.05).

Abdominal binder significantly improved FEV₁ and FVC in spinal cord injury patients by optimizing the operating lung volumes and decreasing abdominal compliance.