Feedback Respiratory Training to Enhance Chest Expansion and Pulmonary Function in Chronic Stroke: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of feedback respiratory training on chest expansion and pulmonary function in patients with stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-seven patients with stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the feedback respiratory training group (experimental) (n=13) and the control group (control) (n=14). Feedback respiratory training and conventional physical therapy were performed by the experimental group. Conventional physical therapy was performed by the control group. Both groups received training three times per week for four weeks.[Results] Significant improvements were observed in chest expansion after training in the experimental group. Gains in chest expansion were greater in the experimental than in control group. Values of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, peak expiratory flow, vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, and inspiratory reserve volume in pulmonary function tests increased post-training in the experimental group. With the exception of expiratory reserve volume, all of these pulmonary function test measures showed greater gains in the experimental group than in the control group. [Conclusion] Feedback respiratory training is effective for the improvement of chest expansion and pulmonary function in patients with stroke.

Feasibility of Early Physical Therapy Program In-Hospital Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

“…A restrictive type of respiratory disorder in subacute and chronic period is reported in several studies [14,15]. Probably lower values in our study are due to the impaired mechanics of breathing as a result of the cerebral vascular accident [16].…”

“…Biofeedback inspiratory training devices are used for improving pulmonary function and providing feedback about respiratory training to patients with stroke and neurological condition [14,17,19,20]. The inspiratory capacity data in this study showed improvement for 10 days period with mean 300 ml.…”

“…The changes in FVC are likely to result of improved inspiration after training. Other authors [14,15,17] also report an improvement in the spirometric indicators in stroke patients after conducting a targeted workout with an incentive breathing device. Their studies were held in a subacute and chronic period with duration of 4 to 8 weeks.…”

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Diaphragm Thickness, Pulmonary Function, and Chest Expansion in Chronic Stroke Patients

“…Previous studies reported that stroke patients suffered from a restrictive lung disease (Fugl-Meyer et al, 1983;Kim et al, 2011). Some 40 percent of stroke patients with restrictive ventilator impairment showed a decline in diaphragm displacement.…”

Eficácia da eletroestimulação muscular expiratória na tosse de pacientes após acidente vascular encefálico

“…As consequências diretas desse acometimento são a diminuição da pressão gerada durante a tosse levando a episódios de broncoaspiração e retenção de secreções em vias aéreas 8,15 . Sabe-se que o treino de força no músculo reto abdominal através de dispositivos de expiração forçada, melhora o recrutamento de fibras, e consequentemente a tosse, mas existe uma série de condições clínicas e limitações que contraindica o uso destes para essa finalidade [16][17][18][19] . Além disso, já existem evidências que a eletroestimulação transcutânea em musculatura respiratória tem bons efeitos em pacientes crônicos, inclusive neurológicos, em quadros de atrofia muscular [20][21][22][23][24][25] .…”