A previous study using spirometric methods demonstrated that 42% of subjects with tetraplegia experienced significant bronchodilation following inhalation of metaproterenol sulfate (MS). Comparative studies involving subjects with paraplegia were not performed and none has been performed in this population using body plethysmography, a more sensitive method used to assess airway responsiveness....

We examined the effect of the level and completeness of spinal cord injury (SCI), tetraplegia and paraplegia, on common carotid arterial (CCA) and common femoral arterial (CFA) functions supine and during head-up tilt (HUT), compared with able-bodied controls. Subjects (tetraplegia [n = 7], paraplegia [n = 8], and controls [n = 8]) were healthy males between the ages of 19 and 60 years. We used...

Individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI), especially with tetraplegia, experience poor sleep quality, and this may be related to impaired control of circadian rhythmicity. Here, we examined the evening onset of melatonin secretion, an important hormone for the initiation of sleep, in people with a complete cervical (tetraplegia) and thoracic (paraplegia) SCI, and age- and sex-matched able-bo...

There are some Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) systems that restore upper limb functions in tetraplegia. Surface electrodes [1], percutaneous intramuscular electrodes [2] and totally implantable electrodes [3] are used for stimulation in these neuroprostheses. The FESMATE system, developed by the Sendai FES Projects in Japan, is a portable multi-channel FES system with percutaneous elec...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to design and implement a transducer to measure accurately the isometric elbow moments produced by individuals with tetraplegia. DESIGN The device needed to be insensitive to off-axis moments and proximal joint motions and be capable of being used over a wide range of elbow and shoulder positions in an outpatient clinic setting. BACKGROUND Measurement...

The purpose of this study was to establish a baseline for further research on adaptation evaluation for drivers with disabilities. Driving performance and workload for 26 drivers with spinal cord injuries (tetraplegia) was studied and compared to a matched group of able-bodied drivers in a driving simulator. Drivers with tetraplegia used two types of hand-operated controls for accelerating and ...

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by ichthyosis, spastic diplegia or tetraplegia, and intellectual disability. Herein, we describe a case of a Greek patient with ichthyosis and spasticity of the legs but with normal intelligence (IQ 95). This syndrome should be suspected when a child presents with ichthyosis and spastic diplegia or tetraplegia, even if int...

BACKGROUND Salivary alpha amylase (sAA) and chromogranin A (sCgA) have both been suggested as non-invasive markers for sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. A complete cervical spinal cord injury leading to tetraplegia is accompanied with sympathetic dysfunction; the aim of this study was to establish the exercise response of these markers in this in vivo model. METHODS Twenty-six elite ...

Objective: To investigate the course of mechanical effiiency of handrim wheelchair propulsion during rehabilitation f subjects with (in)complete paraplegia and tetraplegia. Design: Subjects were tested at the start of active rehabiliation (t1), 3 months later (t2), and when discharged from npatient rehabilitation (t3). They performed two 3-minute subaximal treadmill exercise blocks in a wheelch...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the differences in glenohumeral contact forces and shoulder muscle forces between able-bodied subjects and subjects with paraplegia and tetraplegia during wheelchair-related activities of daily living (ADLs). DESIGN Kinematics and external forces were measured during wheelchair ADLs (level propulsion, weight-relief lifting, reaching) and processed by using an inverse dyn...