Structured different exercise protocols improve lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke patients. A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Background

The effect of core stabilization exercises (CSE) alone, or in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Kinesio taping (KT) on lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke is not fully known. ObjectivesTo compare the efficacy of NMES and KT applied with CSE on lung functions, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke.

Objective

The effect of core stabilization exercises (CSE) alone, or in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Kinesio taping (KT) on lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke is not fully known. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of NMES and KT applied with CSE on lung functions, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke.

Methods

A total of 45 stroke patients were randomly assigned to the core stabilization exercises (CSE) group, CSE+KT group or CSE+NMES group, respectively. All groups received the training protocol for 30–45 minutes, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. Lung functions were measured using portable spirometry. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed using an analog manometer to measure maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Peak cough flow (PCF) was measured with a peak flow meter. Respiratory muscles thickness were determined using ultrasonography.

Results

Except for FVC (%pred%) (F = 4.432, p = 0.018, ηp  = 0.174), FEV1(%pred%) (F = 3.725, p = 0.032, ηp  = 0.151), and MEP (F = 3.861, p = 0.029, ηp  = 0.155), the overall group by time interaction for rmANOVA showed that there was no statistically significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). After post hoc analysis, it was determined that there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of FVC (%pred%), FEV1(%pred%) and MEP (p > 0.025).

Conclusions

The addition of NMES or KT to core stabilization exercises did not appear to provide additional benefit in improving lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke patients.

KEYWORDS:

• Stroke
• kinesio-taping
• core stabilization exercises
• lung functions
• ultrasound
• muscle thickness
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Varzikoglu, Mr. Doruk and Mr. Yilmaz for their help in recruiting stroke patients. Also known as we thank the participants and family and caregivers for their hard work, hospitality, and their courage.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

AY and RD did the topic selection, conception and design. FNK ensured the selection, referral and consent of eligible patients. AY and UE performed the assessment of the patients and implementation of the training program. AY, RM and RD performed data analysis and interpretation. FNK and RD coordinated the study and AY and RM drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in the study involving human subject were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from the patient included in the study.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10749357.2024.2356413.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.