A system and method that provides adjustable diaphragmatic pacing to a patient having an associated neurological deficit with adjustments occurring automatically in response to the patient's physiological need. In a first implementation, physiological need is determined according to the patient's activity level, e.g., as determined by the patient's motion as detected by one or more accelerometers. In a second implementation, physiological need is determined by an oximeter measuring the current oxygen level of the patient's blood. In a third implementation, physiological need is determined by a combination of the first and second implementation according to sensed motion and sensed oxygen level. Preferably, systems of the present invention are implantable and powered by rechargeable batteries and may be integrated with a system of implantable devices that restores motor functions to an injured patient and this restoration then requires an adjustable respiration rate in response to the patient's restored movements.