Acute Ventilatory Support During Whole-Body Hybrid Rowing in Patients With High-Level Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

Chest. 2020 May;157(5):1230-1240. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.10.044. Epub 2019 Nov 16.

Abstract

Background: High-level spinal cord injury (SCI) results in profound spinal and supraspinal deficits, leading to substantial ventilatory limitations during whole-body hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES)-rowing, a form of exercise that markedly increases the active muscle mass via electrically induced leg contractions. This study tested the effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on ventilatory and aerobic capacities in SCI.

Methods: This blinded, randomized crossover study enrolled 19 patients with SCI (level of injury ranging from C4 to T8). All patients were familiar with FES-rowing and had plateaued in their training-related increases in aerobic capacity. Patients performed two FES-rowing peak exercise tests with NIV or without NIV (sham).

Results: NIV increased exercise tidal volume (peak, 1.50 ± 0.31 L vs 1.36 ± 0.34 L; P < .05) and reduced breathing frequency (peak, 35 ± 7 beats/min vs 38 ± 6 beats/min; P < .05) compared with the sham test, leading to no change in alveolar ventilation but a trend toward increased oxygen uptake efficiency (P = .06). In those who reached peak oxygen consumption (Vo2peak) criteria (n = 13), NIV failed to significantly increase Vo2peak (1.73 ± 0.66 L/min vs 1.78 ± 0.59 L/min); however, the range of responses revealed a correlation between changes in peak alveolar ventilation and Vo2peak (r = 0.89; P < .05). Furthermore, those with higher level injuries and shorter time since injury exhibited the greatest increases in Vo2peak.

Conclusions: Acute NIV can successfully improve ventilatory efficiency during FES exercise in SCI but may not improve Vo2peak in all patients. Those who benefit most seem to be patients with cervical SCI within a shorter time since injury.

Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Nos.: NCT02865343 and NCT03267212; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Keywords: exercise testing; noninvasive ventilation; pulmonary rehabilitation; respiratory pattern; spinal cord injury.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy / methods*
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Noninvasive Ventilation*
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / rehabilitation*
  • Water Sports*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT03267212
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02865343