A Comparison of Vital Capacity Value With Spinal Cord Injury Following Changing Positions

척수손상 환자의 자세에 따른 폐활량의 변화

The purpose of this study was to identify vital capacity (VC) in relation to the changing position of 19 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and 20 normal controls. Among the 19 SCI patients, there were 9 quadriplegics and 10 paraplegics. The vital capacity was measured in each subject during sitting, standing, lying, and head down position of 30 degrees. The data were analysed by the Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. For the SCI, significant difference of VC accoring to the 4 positions between quadriplegics and paraplegics. In the control group, significant difference of VC according to the 4 positions. In 4 positions the VC of men were significantly larger than that of women between two groups. No statistical significant difference was shown in VC by the postural change between quadriplegics and paraplegics.