Effect of incentive spirometer exercise on pulmonary functions in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Background Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) patients have lower pulmonary functions than normal healthy individuals as they usually have decreased chest wall mobility, deviation of optimal chest wall structure, and weak respiratory muscles. Purpose The aim was to study the effect of incentive spirometer exercise (ISE) on spirometry pulmonary function in children with spastic CP. Materials and methods Fifty spastic CP patients were randomly divided into two groups: the study group consisted of 30 patients and the control group consisted of 20 patients. Both groups were following and doing physiotherapy in the National Institute of Neuromotor System, the study group added incentive spirometer exercise to their physiotherapy program. We assessed forced expiratory volume at first second (FEV1%), the forced vital capacity (FVC %), FEV1/FVC ratio, and maximal mid-expiratory flow before and after 4 weeks of exercise and lastly after another 4 weeks of exercise. Results The authors found significant improvements in FEV1%, FVC %, and maximal mid-expiratory flow in the study group, but not in the control group. Conclusion The authors support the use of ISE for improving pulmonary functions in children with spastic CP.