Investigating the correlation between pulmonary function tests and ultrasonographic diaphragm measurements and the effects of respiratory exercises on these parameters in hemiplegic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of DUS and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and investigate the effects of respiratory exercises on the above parameters. METHODS: For the treatment group (n=20), neurological rehabilitation and respiratory exercise program, and for the control group (n=21), only a neurological rehabilitation program was implemented for 30 sessions. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), end-inspiration diaphragm thickness (IDT), end-expiratory diaphragm thickness (EDT), and diaphragm thickening ratio (DTR) were measured pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: IDTs and EDTs as well as DTRs of affected side (p < .001, .001, and .03, respectively) and intact side (p < .001, .001, and .02, respectively) were found to improve post-treatment than before treatment in the treatment group. Similarly, FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC, were better post-treatment than before treatment in the treatment group. Moreover, the affected side IDT was positively correlated with FVC and FEV1 before treatment (r = .38, p = .03 and r = .35, p = .02) and post-treatment (r = .46, p = .02 and r = .39, p = .03). The affected side DTR was positively correlated with FVC and FEV1 before treatment (r = .44, p = .01 and r = .40, p = .02) and post-treatment (r = .32, p = .03 and r = .40, p = .04). CONCLUSION: DUS can be used for the evaluation of respiratory problems in stroke patients. Moreover, breathing exercises improve these parameters in stroke patients, and they can be followed up by DUS.