Respiratory pressures and thoracoabdominal motion in community-dwelling chronic stroke survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and characterize the muscular strength and components of breathing patterns in chronic stroke survivors compared with age-matched subjects.


METHODS
Descriptive case-control study.


METHODS
Research laboratory.


METHODS
Sixteen community-dwelling stroke survivors and 19 age-matched healthy subjects.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory pressure (MEP), tidal volume, respiratory rate, percentage of inspiratory time related to total respiratory cycle, mean inspiratory flow, and rib cage and abdominal contributions to tidal volume.


RESULTS
Stroke subjects presented significantly lower MIP (P<.01) and MEP (P=.01) and a tendency for predominance of rib cage contributions (P=.05) during tidal breathing. There were no significant differences between the other respiratory variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreases in strength of respiratory muscles and lower abdomen contributions were shown during the respiratory cycle in community-dwelling stroke subjects. Based on these findings, it can be hypothesized that the association of specific respiratory training could optimize the gains associated with cardiovascular training in stroke survivors.
Teixeira-Salmela
Luci F
LF
Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil. jhsalmela@hotmail.com
Parreira
Verônica F
VF
Britto
Raquel R
RR
Brant
Tereza C
TC
Inácio
Erika P
EP
Alcântara
Thais O
TO
Carvalho
Ivana F
IF
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors