J Korean Phys Ther.  2017 Feb;29(1):1-6. 10.18857/jkpt.2017.29.1.1.

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Strengthening Exercise on Respiratory Function and Activities of Daily Living in Stroke Patients

• Kim BR
• Kang JI
• Kim YN
• Jeong DK

• KMID: 2385765
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2017.29.1.1

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to demonstrate reduction in stroke symptoms by analyzing the changes in respiratory function and activities of daily living (ADL) after respiratory muscle strengthening exercise in patients who had a stroke and thereby, propose an efficient exercise method.
METHODS
Twenty patients with hemiplegic stroke were divided into two groups, with 10 patients in each. The control group (CG) received the traditional exercise therapy, and the experimental group (EG) received the traditional exercise therapy combined with expiratory muscle strengthening training. The training continued for 6 weeks, 5 days a week. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) were measured with a spirometer, SpO₂ was measured with a pulse oximeter, and ADL were assessed by using the modified Barthel index (MBI). A paired t test was applied to compare the differences before and after the intervention, and an independent t test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The level of statistical significance was set as α=0.05.
RESULTS
The changes in the FVC and FEV1 values within the group showed significant differences only in the EG (p<0.01). The between-group difference was statistically significant only for FVC and FEV1 in the EG (p<0.01). The changes in SpOâ‚‚ and MBI within the group showed significant differences only in the EG and CG (p<0.01). Between-group differences were statistically significant only for SpOâ‚‚ and MBI in the EG (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The interventions with active patient involvement and combined breathing exercises had a positive impact on all the functions investigated in this study.

Keyword

ADL; Respiratory function; Respiratory muscle strengthening exercise; Stroke

MeSH Terms

Activities of Daily Living*
Breathing Exercises
Exercise Therapy
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Methods
Patient Participation
Respiratory Muscles*
Stroke*
Vital Capacity