Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013 · DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008507.pub2 · Published: July 1, 2013
After a cervical spinal cord injury, breathing muscles can become paralyzed or weakened, reducing lung capacity and increasing the risk of lung infections. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) aims to strengthen these muscles. This review examined 11 studies involving 212 people with cervical spinal cord injury. The findings suggest a small beneficial effect of RMT on lung volume and respiratory muscle strength. The review found no effect on the maximum amount of air that can be pushed out in one breath or shortness of breath. No adverse effects of training the breathing muscles were identified.
RMT can be considered to improve vital capacity and respiratory muscle strength in individuals with cervical SCI, though the effect size is small.
More studies are needed to examine the effect of RMT on respiratory and quality of life outcomes, particularly dyspnoea, respiratory complications, and quality of life.
Longer-term follow-up studies are needed to determine any carryover effects of training and to assess the effects of RMT on quality of life, respiratory morbidity, and mortality.