Effects of the Air Stacking technique on vital capacity and peak cough flow after 3 months of training in people with tetraplegia

Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs respiratory muscle function, reducing volumes and flows, which decreases life expectancy and increases comorbidities. With the reduction in peak cough flow (PCF), techniques such as Air Stacking can aid in improving secretion mobilization. <bold>Methodology:</bold> Analysis was carried out on an anonymized database of people with SCI who received AS at the Los Coihues clinic-Chile. We analyzed PCF in 4 stages: PCF, PCF plus AS (PCF+AS), PCF plus assisted cough (PCF+TA) and PCF with AS plus TA (PCF+TA+AS). Evaluation of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and maximal inspiratory capacity (MIC), using a spirometer EasyOne®, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) (digital vacuum meter PCE–P01/05). All data were compared before and after 3-months period using the Student's t-test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Twenty subjects were included (age of 38.8±13.1 years). They presented initial values of FVC was 2.41±0.91 (L), MIC 3.8±0.96 (L), PCF 207±108 (L/min), PCF+AS of 343±126 (L/min), PCF+TA 282±116 (L/min) and PCF+AS+TA 409±137 (L/min). After 3- months of training with AS the values were, FVC of 3.01±1.06 (L), MIC 4.48±0.96 (L), PCF 267±119 (L/min), PCF+AS 389±119 (L/min), PCF+TA 336±126 (L/min) and PCF+AS+TA 471±129 (L/min). All variables show statistically significant changes. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The implementation of AS resulted in increases across all variables, thereby improving lung function and cough efficacy in the SC subjects.