Effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory capacity and walking ability with subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled pilot trial

Abstract

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory capacity and walking ability in subacute stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=6) or a control group (n=6). Patients in the experimental group received inspiratory muscle training for 30 minutes (six sets of five-minutes) and traditional physical therapy once a day, five days a week, for four weeks. The control group received aerobic exercise for 30 minutes and traditional physical therapy for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. [Results] After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, 10-meter walking test, and six-minute walking test over the baseline results. There were significant between-group differences for the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and six-minute walking test. No statistically significant differences were observed for measures of saturation pulse oximetry oxygen and 10-meter walking test between the groups. [Conclusion] These findings gave some indications that inspiratory muscle training may benefit in patients with subacute stroke, and it is feasible to be included in rehabilitation program with this population.

Efficacy of Interventions to Improve Respiratory Function After Stroke

“…Eleven trials compared experimental interventions versus no intervention, 14,16,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] 3 compared to sham interventions, [34][35][36] and 3 of the studies compared 2 different modalities of respiratory interventions. [37][38][39] The characteristics of the included trials are summarized in Table 1.…”

“…Interventions. The experimental interventions were: aerobic exercises (2 trials), 37,39 breathing exercises (ie, breathing/chest expansion/diaphragmatic exercises) (4 trials), 16,26,30,33 postural exercises (1 trial), 32 respiratory muscle training (11 trials), 14,25,[27][28][29][30][31][33][34][35][36] , and the addition of electrical stimulation (2 trials). 14,38 Three trials included 2 interventions (2 experimental groups) and were included in 2 different comparisons.…”

“…14,25,[33][34][35][36] Thirteen trials measured lung function using spirometry (data on FVC and FEV 1 were reported in L, and data on PEF were reported in L/s). 16,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][37][38][39] Two trials 30,38 reported lung function as percentages of the predicted values. Regarding the secondary outcomes, 2 trials measured dyspnea using the Borg scale, 29,33 and 6 trials measured activity.…”

“…Regarding the secondary outcomes, 2 trials measured dyspnea using the Borg scale, 29,33 and 6 trials measured activity. 25,29,33,36,37,39 Activity was measured using timed-walk measures (3 trials), 29,37,39 cycle ergometer (2 trials), 33,36 and self-reported questionnaires (3 trials). 25,33,36 Effect of Interventions Aerobic Exercise.…”

Incidence and predictive factors of diaphragmatic dysfunction in acute stroke

“…Involvement of the diaphragm in ischaemic stroke has been generally described as a palsy contralateral to the lesion in patients with hemiparesis [1,5,6]. A bilateral reduction in mobility has been also seen, with no direct diaphragmatic dysfunction, that can contribute to reducing respiratory function in these patients [19,20]. This diaphragmatic dysfunction could contribute to the appearance of respiratory failure [5] or other complications such as respiratory infections [1].…”