Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Function and Serum Lipid Profile in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

OBJECTIVE: To help cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention of cardiovascular disease in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Twenty spinal cord injured patients were divided into 3 groups according to level of injury - cervical, thoracic and lumbar level groups. Exercise stress test was initiated at a velocity of 1.5 mph for 1 minute and was increased 0.5 mph for each subsequent minute. To evaluate blood lipid profiles, we measured total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the fasting state. RESULTS: Oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption ratio of maximal oxygen consumption and minute ventilation were significantly higher in the thoracic and lumbar cord level groups compared to the cervical cord level group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between all 3 groups in respect to total duration of exercise (p<0.05). The HDL- cholesterol level showed significant correlation with total exercise time (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiopulmonary evaluation by specialized wheel chair system in spinal cord injured patients may be more safe and accurate method compared to the previous examination.

Epidural Motor Cortex Stimulation for Intractable Thalamic Pain: A case report

Motor cortex stimulation is a new technique for post-stroke central pain. The authors reported a case of epidural motor cortex stimulation for thalamic pain after right thalamic intracerebral hematoma. The patient was a 52 year old female who had presented with neuropathic pain on left upper and lower extremity. The authors performed epidural motor cortex stimulation via a small craniotomy site by use of navigation system. Good relief of the pain was achieved. Postoperative visual analogue scale pain score decreased from 9 to 3. The epidural trial of motor cortex stimulation was an effective method in treating refractory thalamic pain as our case.

Changes of Cardiopulmonary Response and Serum Lipid Level after Backward Walk Training

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes of cardiopulmonary response and serum lipid level after backward walking training in healthy male college students. METHOD: Subjects were ten healthy male college students. Maximal heart rate and VO2max were determined for each subject by administering a Bruce treadmill exercise test after backward walking training during eight weeks. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to evaluate the changes of the backward walk training. RESULTS: The study showed that maximal heart rates were 163.7 beat/min in pre-training and 175.8 beats/min in post- training; in contrast, resting heart rates were 72 beat/min in pre-training and 67 beat/min in post-training. The maximal oxygen consumptions were 2111 ml/min in pre-training and 2521 ml/min in post-training. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in maximal heart rate, heart rate ratio of maximal heart rate (% HR), oxygen consumption, and oxygen consumption ratio of maximal oxygen consumption (% VO2max) between the pre and post-training. The HDL cholesterol level was 42.8 mg/dl in pre-training and 58.0 mg/dl in post-training. There was significant increased of HDL cholesterol in post-training. CONCLUSION: We concluded that 5 km/hr backward walk training for eight weeks was an effective exercise program to increase in aerobic capacity of the male college students.

Comparison of Isokinetic Strength of Knee and Pulmonary Function between Collegians and Hockey Players in College

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the strength of the knee and pulmonary function comparing collegians and hockey players in college. METHOD: KINdegreeCOM isokinetic dynamometer and medigraph were used to evaluate strength of the right lower extremity and pulmonary function to 30 male students comprising 15 hockey players and 15 collegians with no significant difference in age, weight, and height between the two groups. All subjects used their right lower limb as dominant limb. RESULTS: 1) The significant differences between collegians and hockey players were found in the peak torque at 60o/sec,180o/sec. 2) The siginficant differences between collegians and hockey players were found in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second and expiratory reserve volume on the pulmonary function. 3) The significant correlation between isokinetic strength and pulmonary function were found in peak torque. CONCLUSION: It is turned out that hockey players in college have much better isokinetic strength and pulmonary function than collegians, so it is suggested this result have to be considered in selecting hockey players and exercise prescription.

Effect of Passive Leg Range of Motion Exercise in Hemiplegic Patients

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the change of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiration rate, and spasticity at passive leg range of motion exercise for one month in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Subjects were composed of twenty hemiplegic patients who had spasticity above two grade in modified Ashworth scale. Passive leg range of motion exercise was performed with passive cycle leg exerciser (Autocybex) at the speed of 40 rpm. Training program consisted of two sessions a day, and each session was done for twenty minutes. The heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate were checked for each subject before and after passive leg range of motion exercise at initial state and after one month. Spasticity was measured at knee joint of the affected side at initial state and after one month. RESULTS: The resting heart rate, mean arterial pressure and respiration rate were significantly decreased after one month (p<0.05). The changes of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate after passive leg range of motion exercise were significantly decreased after one month (p<0.05). The grade of spasticity was decreased after one month (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that passive leg range of motion exercise during one month stabilized heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate, and reduced spasticity.