ORIGINAL PAPER
Outcomes of physical therapy program on respiratory and phrenic nerve
functions in cervical disc compression
1
Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiopulmonary Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
2
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
3
Department of Physical Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders and its Surgeries, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
4
Faculty of Physical Therapy, City University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
Submission date: 2024-03-26
Acceptance date: 2024-09-25
Online publication date: 2025-10-10
Corresponding author
Khaled Takey Ahmed
Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiopulmonary Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, 26th of July Corridor, 6th of October, Giza Governorate, Egypt
Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiopulmonary Disorders and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Misr University for Science and Technology, 26th of July Corridor, 6th of October, Giza Governorate, Egypt
KEYWORDS
cervical disc compressiondiaphragmatic excursionphrenic nervepulmonary function testingultrasonography
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Pulmonary compromise may result in further comorbidities and increased mortality among spinal cord lesion patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the planned physical therapy protocol’s efficacy on pulmonary function and phrenic nerve activities in cervical disc lesions.
Methods:
Thirty participants from the spinal unit – Al Salam International Hospital had an acute fifth and/or upper cervical compressed disc. The mean age range was 43.17 ± 2.90 years. Pulmonary functional tests of vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were measured via spirometry, diaphragmatic excursion via ultrasound, and phrenic amplitude and distal latency (PNL) via electromyography at baseline and 3 months later. The treatment protocol involved a hot pack, cervical traction, and ultrasound, in addition to diaphragmatic breathing exercise training.
Results:
The obtained results revealed remarkable improvement in all measured outcomes compared to the mean values of pre- and post-treatment. Highly statistically significant increases in FEV1, MVV, diaphragmatic excursion, and amplitude of the phrenic nerve were determined (0.0001), along with significantly reduced PNL at post-intervention (0.0001) compared to baseline. Conclusions. The obtained results revealed remarkable improvement in all measured outcomes compared to the mean values of pre- and post-treatment. Highly statistically significant increases in FEV1, MVV, diaphragmatic excursion, and amplitude of the phrenic nerve were determined (0.0001), along with significantly reduced PNL at post-intervention (0.0001) compared to baseline.
Conclusions:
The improvement obtained in all measured parameters may be attributed to the effect of the intensive treatment program, which led to controlling pain and increasing respiratory muscle strength.
Pulmonary compromise may result in further comorbidities and increased mortality among spinal cord lesion patients. The current study was designed to evaluate the planned physical therapy protocol’s efficacy on pulmonary function and phrenic nerve activities in cervical disc lesions.
Methods:
Thirty participants from the spinal unit – Al Salam International Hospital had an acute fifth and/or upper cervical compressed disc. The mean age range was 43.17 ± 2.90 years. Pulmonary functional tests of vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were measured via spirometry, diaphragmatic excursion via ultrasound, and phrenic amplitude and distal latency (PNL) via electromyography at baseline and 3 months later. The treatment protocol involved a hot pack, cervical traction, and ultrasound, in addition to diaphragmatic breathing exercise training.
Results:
The obtained results revealed remarkable improvement in all measured outcomes compared to the mean values of pre- and post-treatment. Highly statistically significant increases in FEV1, MVV, diaphragmatic excursion, and amplitude of the phrenic nerve were determined (0.0001), along with significantly reduced PNL at post-intervention (0.0001) compared to baseline. Conclusions. The obtained results revealed remarkable improvement in all measured outcomes compared to the mean values of pre- and post-treatment. Highly statistically significant increases in FEV1, MVV, diaphragmatic excursion, and amplitude of the phrenic nerve were determined (0.0001), along with significantly reduced PNL at post-intervention (0.0001) compared to baseline.
Conclusions:
The improvement obtained in all measured parameters may be attributed to the effect of the intensive treatment program, which led to controlling pain and increasing respiratory muscle strength.
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