Possibility of controlling orthostatic instability in spinal cord injuries

Hemodynamics were studied in 10 patients with high (cervical) spinal cord injury in a change to a vertical position. They were fitted with special antioverexertion gear (AOG) consisting of an abdominal, two thigh, and two knee inflatable rubber cuffs in which pressure of +50 mm Hg was produced. Measurements were taken every minute of arterial pressure, volumetric rate of blood flow in the upper limb (by venous-occlusion plethysmography), cardiac output and stroke volume (by body integral rheography); peripheral resistance and vascular resistance were calculated from a formula. Change of the patient to a vertical position without the use of the AOG was attended by a sharp fall in arterial pressure, stroke volume, and peripheral resistance and by marked tachycardia. Orthostatic collapse developed in the third-fourth minute. The use of the AOG prevented such a fall in the hemodynamic parameters which stayed on a higher level, this made it possible for the patients to remain in an erect position for 10 minutes and longer. These of the AOG in recommended in the first stage of training patients with sharply pronounced orthostatic instability.