Vital capacity following traumatic brain injury

This study was designed to describe lung volume subdivisions in individuals with traumatic brain injury. Records were reviewed for 114 consecutive referrals for motor speech evaluations in a community re-entry residential rehabilitation programme. Obtained measures were vital capacity, inspiratory capacity, and expiratory reserve volume at the time of evaluation. Seventy-nine per cent of subjects evidenced at least moderate deficits in expiratory reserve volume, with 60% evidencing severe deficits. Inspiratory capacity was the least affected, with 61% of subjects evidencing values within normal limits. Possible contributors to reduced expiratory reserve volumes include expiratory muscle weakness due to physical inactivity, inability to voluntarily perform the task, or perceived effort.