OBJECTIVES To assess the food intake pattern and the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 90 children from two to 12.8 years with cerebral palsy in the following forms: hemiplegia, diplegia, and tetraplegia. Nutritional status was assessed by weight, height, and age data. Food intake was verified by the 24-hour recall and food frequency question...

STUDY OBJECTIVES Previous spirometric findings among subjects with chronic tetraplegia that reduction in FEV1 and maximal forced expiratory flow, mid-expiratory phase (FEF(25-75%)) correlated with airway hyperresponsiveness to histamine, and that many of these subjects exhibited significant bronchodilator responsiveness, suggested that baseline airway caliber was low in this population. To bett...

OBJECTIVE Respiratory muscle endurance of able-bodied persons, assessed by normocapnic hyperpnoea at 70% of their maximal voluntary ventilation, usually ranges from 10 to 20 minutes. The aim of this study was to determine the level of ventilation that patients with paraplegia and tetraplegia can sustain for 10-20 minutes to later be used as the guideline for respiratory muscle endurance trainin...

We report the case of a child with tetraplegia after cervical trauma, who subsequently underwent diaphragmatic pacemaker implantation. We reviewed the major indications for diaphragmatic pacing and the types of devices employed. We highlight the unequivocal benefit of diaphragmatic pacing in the social and educational reintegration of individuals with tetraplegia.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To examine nutrient intake and body mass index (BMI) in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population according to level of injury and sex. DESIGN Cross-sectional study conducted at 2 SCI treatment centers. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS Seventy-three community-dwelling individuals with C5-T12 ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) A or B SCI. Subjects were divided into 4 groups: male tetraplegi...

This study describes the length of stay (LOS) and functional outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the Netherlands and its determinants. Data of 157 patients from eight rehabilitation centers were available. Mean age was 40.0 years and 76.4% were traumatic injuries, 39.8% had tetraplegia, and 69.9% had a motor complete SCI. Median LOS was 240 days (interquartile range 164-322). Median motor Fu...

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to tetraplegia, with paralysis and loss of sensation in the upper and lower limbs. The associated sedentary lifestyle results in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. To address this, we require the design of exercise modalities aimed specifically at tetraplegia and methods to assess their efficacy. This paper describes methods for arm-crank ergome...