Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine

Original Article: J Korean Acad Rehabil Med. 2004;28(5):454-457.; Postural Change of Vital Capacity in Patients with Neuromuscular Disease.; Cho, Dong Hee , Kang, Seong Woong , Park, Jung Hyun , Yoo, Tae Won; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute of Muscular Disease, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea. kswoong@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract: Objective
To evaluate the difference in vital capacity (VC) between sitting and supine position in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Method: VC was measured in the sitting and supine position for 30 patients with DMD and for 30 patients with ALS. The highest value in three or more attempts in each position was chosen.Results: VCs measured in ALS patients in the sitting and supine position were 1591.7⁑634.6 ml and 1290.0⁑580.3 ml respectively. The VC in the sitting position showed significantly higher value than the VC in the supine position (p＜0.05). VCs measured in DMD patients were 903.7⁑518.1 ml and 795.3⁑505.6 ml respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the measurements in both positions.Conclusion: Difference in postural change of VC was observed in patients with different types of neuromuscular disorders. Such difference in VC suggest that postural change of VC should be considered in management of neuromuscular disease with respiratory muscle weakness. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2004; 28: 454-457)

Keywords :Vital capacity, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Postural change, Pulmonary function