Assessment of the respiratory muscles strength at various stages of ischemic stroke

: Power characteristics of the respiratory muscles (RM) in the dynamics of ischemic stroke (IS) is an important tool for the early diagnosis of RM dysfunction and development of individual programs for treatment at different stages of rehabilitation. AIM: To assess the power of RM in patients with IS at different stages of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Power characteristics of RM of 56 patients with IS with different severity of the disease were examined after 2-4, 5-6 and 13-14 months of IS onset. Maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures in the oral cavity, maximum rate of pressure development (MRPD) and sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) were determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A decrease in expiratory and inspiratory RM strength was shown in the early and late periods of IS, severity of which was depended on the severity of neurologic disorders. The bronchial obstruction resulted in RM dysfunction. Expiratory muscles weakness only was observed in the remote period while one third of patients had obstructive disorders of breathing. The functional activity of different RM at different IS stages was correlated with the smoking index, forced expiratory volume in the first second, forced vital capacity, skeletal muscles mass and severity of dyspnea, asthenia and disturbances of vital functions. These differences were the most obvious in elderly group of people. RM power examination of IS patients is an important mechanism of early diagnosis and rehabilitation.