CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES OF PARAPLEGIC BEDRIDDEN AND NORMAL SUBJECTS TO HEAD-UP TILTING

Abstract

This study compared the cardiovascular parameters of paraplegic, bedridden and normal subjects aged 23-55 years during head-up tilting at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 degrees. There were 45 subjects in three groups. All subjects were placed on a manually operated tilt table and their heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measured. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics ofmean and standard deviation as well as inferential statistics ofANOVA. Post-hoc analysis was done with the Duncan multiple range test. Results showed that the cardiovascular responses of the three groups were not significantly different at 0 and 10 degrees of head-up tilt. However, at 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 degrees of tilt, there were significant differences in the responses of the three groups. At these angles, the mean HR for the high lesion paraplegics was significantly higher than that ofthe bedridden and normal subjects, while their DBP and SBP were lower. Also at these angles, the mean HR of the bedridden patients was significantly higher than that of the normal subjects while the mean diastolic and systolic blood pressures were significantly lower. It was concluded that paraplegic and bedridden patients should be gradually returned to the upright posture in order to avoid adverse cardiovascular reactions in these groups ofpatients.