Abstract:
Purpose: Spinal Cord Injury is described as one of the most devastating neurological
impairment. Individual with cervical injury has paralysis of both upper and lower limb.
The present study was conducted to analyze and identify the therapeutic effect of
repeated muscle strengthening training of upper extremity muscles for the treatment of
patient with incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury. This study made the comparison,
in order to discover the most effective treatment to alleviate the symptoms of the
condition. Objectives: The objectives of the study is to investigate the effect of repeated
muscle strengthening training of upper extremity muscles for following muscles
strength (Elbow flexor, Elbow extensor, Wrist flexor, Wrist extensor) and VO2max
among the patients with incomplete tetraplegic SCI. Methodology: The study was
randomized control trial design. Total 30 samples were selected conveniently and then
randomly assigned to experimental and control groups from inpatient treatment service
of Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Physiotherapy Department, Centre for the Rehabilitation of
the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka. Structured questionnaire was used to assess the
socio-demographic and other information of the participants. Pre-test was performed
before beginning the treatment. The same procedure was performed to take post-test at
the end of 4 weeks of treatment. Total treatment sessions were 5 sessions per week for
4 weeks. Single blinding procedure was used during data collection. Outcome
measurement tools: Oxford Grade Scale and Manual Muscle Testing were used to
measure muscle strength. Analysis of data: Inferential statistics such as Mann-Whitney
U test, Wilcoxon sign rank test, Unpaired t test and Paired t test was done using SPSS
version 20. Result: The results were found to be significant in between group analysis,
in case of right elbow extensor muscle strength (p value=0.04 for Oxford Grade Scale
and p value= 0.013 for Manual Muscle testing scale) and VO2max (P value= 0.034). But
it was not found to be significant in case of left elbow extensor, right and left elbow
flexor and right and left wrist flexor and extensor muscles strength. In within Group
analysis, in case of the above mentioned variables, the results were found to be
significant more in experimental group than control group. Conclusion: The study
concluded as the repeated muscle strengthening training of upper extremity muscles for
patients with incomplete tetraplegic spinal cord injury may not significantly capable of
producing beneficial effects within this 4 weeks period on the improvement of their
muscle strength comparing with conventional physiotherapy alone.
Keywords: SCI, tetraplegic, conventional physiotherapy, repeated muscle
strengthening training.
Description:
Abstract of a dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy. Bangladesh Health Professions Institute, Faculty of Medicine, the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh