Effect of Different Sitting Postures in Wheelchair on Lung Capacity, Expiratory Flow in Patients of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) of Spine Institute of Ahmedabad

Background: People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) frequently experience various complications. Subjects with SCI are in a sitting posture for prolonged periods of time, it is important to know how different sitting postures affect pulmonary function. Aim: To see the effect of different sitting postures on lung capacity and expiratory flow (LC-EF) in patient of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Material and Method: Hospital based experimental study carried out on 26 patients of SCI during July to September 2009 at Spine Institute of Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad in which two different sitting positions given to patients in wheelchair: 1) Normal sitting posture and 2) WO-BPS sitting posture. The lung capacity and expiratory flow (LC-EF) measures forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and average forced expiratory flow between 25-75% FVC levels (FEF25-75%). Results: All variables including FEV1, FVC, and PEFR were analyzed statically significant in both sitting posture: Normal and WO-BPS posture and FEF25-75% was also increase but not statically significant. Conclusions: WO-BPS with lumbar curve is better option for patients of SCI, sitting for prolong period of time because in this position improve the lung function in SCI patients than normal sitting posture.