Reliability of an Electronic Inspiratory Loading Device for Assessing Pulmonary Function in Post-Stroke Patients

Abstract

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of an electronic inspiratory loading device for the assessment of pulmonary functions: maximum inspiratory pressure, peak inspiratory flow, and vital capacity.Material/MethodsSubjects were 50 patient volunteers in a rehabilitation hospital who had experienced their first episode of unilateral stroke with hemiparesis during the previous 6 months (26 men, 24 women; mean age [±SD], 55.96 [±12.81] years), with no use of medications that could induce drowsiness, evidence of restrictive lung disease, history of asthma, use of psychotropic drugs, or alcohol consumption habit.Maximum inspiratory pressure, peak inspiratory flow, and vital capacity for pulmonary functions were assessed using an electronic inspiratory loading device (PowerBreathe, K5, 2010) by 2 examiners, with patients in an unassisted sitting position, and 1 examiner re-assessed with same patients at the same time of a day after 1 week. Intra-class correlation coefficients were used to assess reliability.ResultsIntra-rater reliability ranged from intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs)=0.959 to 0.986 in variables. For the inter-rater reliability between 2 examiners, the ICCs ranged from 0.933 to 0.985. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability were good in variables (maximal inspiratory pressure, peak inspiratory flow, and vital capacity).ConclusionsThe intra- and inter-examiner reliability of the pulmonary function measurements, maximum inspiratory pressure, peak inspiratory flow, and vital capacity, for the post-stroke patients was very high. The results suggest that the electronic inspiratory loading device would be useful for clinical rehabilitative assessment of pulmonary function.

Decreased Respiratory Muscle Function Is Associated with Impaired Trunk Balance among Chronic Stroke Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), and VC were measured using an electronic inspiratory loading device (PowerBreathe K5, 2010, HaB International Ltd., UK) to determine inspiratory muscle function (Lee et al 2016). The device provides automatically processed information on MIP, PIF, and VC during loaded inspiration tasks (Fig.…”

Concurrent Validity of the Static and Dynamic Measures of Inspiratory Muscle Strength: Comparison between Maximal Inspiratory Pressure and S-Index

“…Inadvertently, the S-Index has been confused with MIP to evaluate IMS. In this sense, Lee et al [2] (2016) revealed a high correlation coefficient of IMS intra-and inter-rater (0.986 and 0.984, respectively) in their study. They used the PowerBreathe K5 device to obtain those results; however, this device evaluates muscle strength at flow with an evaluation of the dynamic muscle contraction.…”

“…In theory, the S-Index is able to support the inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and is becoming popular due to its easy applicability and low cost, since the same device is able to provide IMS and inspiratory muscle resistance evaluation, in addition to the IMT. Besides that, comparing to the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), a better adaptation of individuals to the evaluation was reported, since a more functional maneuver is performed, mimicking the physiological contraction of the inspiratory muscles [2,3] .…”

“…Bland-Altman concordance for maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and S-Index values.Areias GS, et al -Comparison Between MIP and S-Index Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2020 -Ahead of print:[1][2][3][4][5][6] …”

Effectiveness of LiuZiJue Qigong versus traditional core stability training for poststroke patients complicated with abnormal trunk postural control: study protocol for a single-center randomized controlled trial

“…Abnormal breathing patterns and trunk posture affect each other in stroke patients [34]. A study has confirmed that breathing training can significantly increase muscle strength and trunk coordination in stroke patients with hemiplegia and also improve respiratory function [35,36]. It has been reported that respiratory muscle strength training or complex breathing exercises can effectively improve the stability of the trunk posture of stroke patients [37], and it has been proven that resistance training of the thoracic cage can significantly improve respiratory function and the trunk control ability of stroke patients [38].…”