Comprehensive Respiratory Muscle Training Improves Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Acute Stroke Patients

To evaluate the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) on pulmonary function, respiratory complications, and stroke-related disabilities in patients with acute stroke.

One hundred twenty-two subjects with stroke admitted to the stroke rehabilitation center of Inje Hospital between August 2016 and May 2018 were recruited. After the initial exclusion, the remaining patients were assigned to the RMT group (36 patients) or the standard rehabilitation (SR) group (28 patients who did not undergo RMT). A total of 44 patients completed the study, with 22 patients in each group. The RMT program consisted of air-stacking exercise, manually assisted coughing, inspiratory and expiratory muscle strengthening, cough exercises, and respiratory reeducation. Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength were evaluated before commencement and after 1 mo of RMT. The Functional Ambulation Category score, Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index, Shoulder Abduction and Finger Extension score, and handgrip power were assessed. The incidence of pneumonia was also evaluated.

Both pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength significantly improved in both groups. However, differences (%) in the RMT group was greater for all parameters of pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength. Respiratory complications at 1 yr were significantly lower in the RMT group (P = .016).

Four weeks of comprehensive RMT in patients with acute stroke resulted in significantly greater improvements in both pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength than SR. Therefore, RMT has the potential to reduce post-stroke respiratory complications.