A 20-year-old male sustained a complete spinal cord injury at cervical level. The patient has very minimal trapezius, neck muscles, and sternocliedomastoid action. The patient is on assisted ventilation. Which of the following will be an appropriate breathing strategy for him?
Explanation
Answer: A - Frog breathing will be an appropriate breathing strategy for someone who has sustained a complete spinal cord injury at cervical level and has very minimal action of the trapezius, neck muscles, sternocliedomastoid, and is also on assisted ventilation.
Glossopharyngeal breathing is also referred as frog breathing. This technique can be used by only utilizing the action of lips, soft palate, mouth, larynx, tongue and pharynx. With this movement the patient can inhale enough to sustain life without ventilation. This type of breathing requires only an intact cranial nerve.
Butterfly technique needs good motor control to maintain upright position.
Pursed lip breathing is used to reduce the respiratory rate.
Counter rotation is contraindicated in bony instability of spine because this technique involves rotatory movements.
