Lung volumes and mechanics of breathing in tetraplegics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the paralysis of some respiratory muscles, due to a spinal cord lesion, on the lung volumes and the mechanics of breathing, specially on the maximal expiratory flows. Fifty-two tetraplegics have been studied, divided in two groups--according to the level of the lesion to investigate if there is any difference in the behaviour of both groups.