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Respiratory Motor Control Disrupted by Spinal Cord Injury: Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Restoration

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Abstract

Pulmonary complications associated with persistent respiratory muscle weakness, paralysis, and spasticity are among the most important problems faced by patients with spinal cord injury when lack of muscle strength and disorganization of reciprocal respiratory muscle control lead to breathing insufficiency. This review describes the mechanisms of the respiratory motor control and its change in individuals with spinal cord injury, methods by which respiratory function is measured, and rehabilitative treatment used to restore respiratory function in those who have experienced such injury.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation (Grant RFG 2613); Kentucky Spinal Cord and Head Injury Research Trust (Grant 9-10A – KSCHIRT), and National Institutes of Health: National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (Grant 1R01HL103750-01A1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Alexander V. Ovechkin

  2. Exercise Physiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Daniela G. L. Terson de Paleville

  3. Physiology and Biophysics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Daniela G. L. Terson de Paleville & Alexander V. Ovechkin

  4. Norton Neuroscience Institute, Louisville, KY, USA

    William B. McKay

  5. Medicine: Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Rodney J. Folz

  6. Frazier Rehab Institute, 220 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 1506, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Alexander V. Ovechkin

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  1. Daniela G. L. Terson de Paleville
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  2. William B. McKay
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  3. Rodney J. Folz
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  4. Alexander V. Ovechkin
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Correspondence to Alexander V. Ovechkin.

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Terson de Paleville, D.G.L., McKay, W.B., Folz, R.J. et al. Respiratory Motor Control Disrupted by Spinal Cord Injury: Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Restoration. Transl. Stroke Res. 2, 463–473 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-011-0114-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12975-011-0114-0

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