The effects of the neck stabilization exercise on the muscle activity of trunk respiratory muscles and maximum voluntary ventilation of chronic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Unstable neck posture, muscle imbalance, and segmental instability can cause neck pain and decrease the respiratory function. OBJECTIVE: To examine effects of a neck stabilization exercise on respiratory muscle activity and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in patients with a chronic stroke. METHODS: A total of 40 patients with a chronic stroke participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (20 in each group). However, ten patients dropped out of the experiment (5 in each group). The experimental group (n = 15) performed a 15-minute neck stabilization exercise and a 15-minute breathing retraining exercise in addition to a rehabilitation exercise treatment. The control group (n = 15) completed a 30-minute breathing retraining exercise in addition to a rehabilitation exercise treatment. Exercises were conducted for 30 minutes a day, five times a week, for a total of six weeks. Activities of major respiratory muscles and MVV were measured before and after the experiment. RESULTS: Both the experimental group and the control group showed significant difference in activities of major respiratory muscles and MVV before and after the experiment (p < 0.05). The experimental group showed a significantly higher increase compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The application of a combination of a neck stabilization exercise and a breathing retraining exercise to patients with a chronic stroke can increase activity of respiratory muscles and MVV.