Effect of Restriction of the Lower Thoracic Wall and Abdominal Wall by the Lumbo-Sacral Orthosis on Cardio-Pulmonary Response during Ergometry Exercise

• Published in: Journal of Physical Therapy Science 2008, Vol.20(2), pp.97-101
• Main Authors: Eguchi, Katsuhiko, Shiomi, Taizou, Maruyama, Hitoshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardio-pulmonary responses; Ergometry exercise test; Lumbo-sacral orthosis
• ISSN: 0915-5287; 2187-5626
• DOI: 10.1589/jpts.20.97

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to better clarify the influence of wearing a lumbo-sacral orthosis (LSO) on the respiratory and circulatory responses during ergometry exercise, especially on work capacity and energy consumption. [Subjects] Work capacity (WC), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and values of gas exchange threshold (VO2GET) in ten healthy male subjects (age 19.9 ± 0.6 yr, height 1.71 ± 0.06 m, weight 61.2 ± 5.0 kg; mean ± SD) were examined. [Methods] Experimental conditions were as follows: a non-elastic lumbo-sacral orthosis (NLSO) or an elastic lumbo-sacral orthosis (ELSO) were worn and no orthosis was used for the control. For statistic analyses, one-way ANOVA was performed. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. [Results] In this study, we found no significant differences among the three conditions. Mean values of WC were 237 ± 32.6 W in controls, 220 ± 35.2 W with the NLSO and 227 ± 32.3 W with the ELSO, except for one subject who was instructed to stop exercising. Values of VO2peak were, on the average, 2.59 ± 0.34 ml/min in controls, 2.30 ± 0.40 ml/min in the NLSO and 2.41 ± 0.45 ml/min in the ELSO, excluding the subject who failed to exercising. Mean values of VO2GET were 1.21 ± 0.30 ml/min in controls, 1.02 ± 0.24 ml/min with the NLSO and 1.14 ± 0.32 ml/min with the ELSO, for all of the 10 subjects. [Conclusion] It was concluded that both types of LSO had no effect on cardio-pulmonary responses during ergometry exercise.