In Taoyuan, Taiwan, a comprehensive study was conducted by the Taoyuan General Hospital’s Department of Physiotherapy to investigate the feasibility of combining cervicocranial flexion exercises (CCFE) and neck flexor endurance training with conventional pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The groundbreaking research aimed at determining whether such an exercise regime could notably enhance lung function in this patient population.
The trial was rigorously designed with a randomised controlled methodology, ensuring the blinding of assessors and adherence to intention-to-treat analysis. Over the course of the study, thirteen participants who had suffered spinal cord injuries within the past year were carefully selected and placed into two distinct groups for the purpose of the intervention.
The experimental group underwent a specific regimen that incorporated CCFEs and neck flexor endurance exercises, alongside their standard cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. The control group, meanwhile, received general neck stretching exercises in addition to the routine cardiopulmonary rehabilitation treatments that are normally administered.
Key lung function parameters—including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and inspiratory capacity (IC)—were diligently measured on a weekly basis to effectively gauge short-term outcomes. Patient experiences with respect to dyspnea, pain, and neck stiffness were also documented throughout the study’s duration.
Source: Nature.com