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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment RMCA in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 19, 2013
Effect of Albuterol Repetabs on Pulmonary Function in Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Gino S Panza1, Michael F La Fountaine2, Tommy W Sutor3
1Department of Health Care Sciences, Program of Occupational Therapy, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI; John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
Objective:
To determine the effect of 12 weeks of twice daily albuterol repetabs on pulmonary function in persons with chronic spinal cord injury.
Design:
Twelve-week prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
Setting:
Research laboratories.
Participants:
Thirty two individuals (N=32) with chronic spinal cord injury.
Interventions:
Albuterol repetabs or placebo, twice daily, for 12 weeks.
Main Outcome Measures:
Pulmonary function tests and maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures.
Results:
Interaction effects were found for expiratory reserve volume and forced expiratory volume. Improvements in the drug group were found for total lung capacity, vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, and maximal inspiratory pressure. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second did not change in the drug group but trended toward a significant decrease in the placebo group.
Conclusions:
Twelve weeks of albuterol treatment improved overall pulmonary function and ventilatory muscle strength, compared to placebo, in those living with spinal cord injury.
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