Abstract:

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between the muscle strength of the upper limb and the respiratory function parameters in spina bifidal (SB) children. Tools and Methods: The study included 44 myelomeningosel-type SB children with an average age of 9.2±2.4 years. After receiving children’s sociodemographic information, spirometric measurements were made to determine the respiratory function in children: Difficult Vital Capacity (FVC), 1. Hard Expiratory Volume (FEV1) per second, upper flow speed (PEF), hard Expiratory flow speed in the period of 25-27 % (FEF 25–75 %), hard Expiratory flow speed in the period of 50 % (FEF 50 %). The muscle test was performed as a gross muscle test to the upper limb and is isolated to the muscles of pectoralis major, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, deltoideus. The results were recorded as the total score obtained from both limbs for the isolated muscle strength and the total score obtained from the gross test. Results: 2.3% of children were toracal, 27.3% toracal-lumbal, 38.6% lumbal, 27.3% lumbosacral, and 4.5% sacred. Statistical analysis found a relationship between the total muscle strength of the upper extremity and FVC, FEV1, PEF (p<0.05). There was a relationship between FEF 25%-75 and deltoideus and biceps brachii muscle strength, FEF 50% and deltoideus, biceps brachii and pectoralis major muscle strength (P<0.05). Result: In children with SB, the upper limb muscle strength and functionality are important in terms of respiratory function. We believe that the applications aimed at increasing the muscle strength of the upper end during the rehabilitation process of children and providing functional use of the hand will have positive effects on the respiratory function.

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