This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Respiratory (breathing) complications are one of the most frequent secondary conditions faced by persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and are the leading cause of death among those surviving the initial SCI. A small group of physicians and researchers from the University of Michigan Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine have been meeting monthly in a cooperative effort to develop a research program to explore the possibility of using osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) to relieve and prevent long-term respiratory complications in persons with SCI. While the notion of using OMM for respiratory problems can be traced back to apparent successes with these methods during the flu epidemic of 1918, to our knowledge this will be the first attempt to purposefully use OMM to treat or improve respiratory function in persons with SCI at any stage (acute or chronic) of this condition. This initial study will allow us to complete critical preliminary investigations of OMM procedures and evaluation methods. The results from this preliminary investigation will then be used in an application to do a pilot study to collect data to support an application for a future comprehensive study of the impact of OMM on respiratory function in persons with SCI. This initial phase will utilize a small number of subjects (n=14) with SCI at C6-T4 (ASIA A-C) to test data collection methods and check on the agreement of the physicians in evaluating respiratory function in persons with SCI. We also will be utilizing standard instruments to test respiratory function (spirometer, respiratory pressure meter, inductive plethysmograph) and a newly developed measurement instrument (laser plethysmograph).
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