Effect of Sling Exercise Therapy combined with Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training for Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia

Abstract

Objective:To observe the effect of sling exercise therapy combined with inspiratory muscle strength training on the balance and walking for stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods:A total of 72 stroke patients with hemiplegia who were hospitalized in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the first Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to August 2020, which were divided into the control group, the sling group and the combined group according to the random number table method, with 24 cases in each group. The control group received conventional drugs combined with conventional rehabilitation training(including joint range of motion training, PNF techniques, standing balance training, walking training, and activity of daily living training, etc.), rehabilitation training for 40 minutes a time, twice a day, five days a week, continous training for six weeks. The sling group received sling exercise therapy on the basis of the control group, which mainly included trunk control training, intensive training of lower limb separation exercises, and alternate training of both lower limbs under the condition of waist sling for weight loss. The above three exercises should be trained alternately, hold for five seconds at the end of each exercise, and then rest for five seconds, 20 minutes one time, twice a day, five days a week, contionus training for six weeks. The combined group received inspiratory muscle strength training on the basis of the sling group, 20 minutes one time, one time a day, five days a week, contionus training for six weeks. Before and after treatment for six weeks, the maximum inspiratory pressure(MIP), peak inspiratory flow(PIF), and forced vital capacity(FVC)were used to assess the lung function and inspiratory muscle function of patients; the Berg balance scale(BBS)was used to assess patients balance ability; the Fugl-Meyer assessment lower extremity(FMA-LE)was used to assess the patient's lower limb motor function; 10-meter maximum walking speed(10 m MWS)was used to assess the patient's walking speed.Results:Before treatment, there were no significant differences in MIP, PIF, FVC, BBS score, FMALE motor function score and 10 m MWS in the three groups(P>0.05).Compared with before treatment, the MIP, PIF, FVC, BBS score, FMA-LE motor function score and 10 m MWS in the three groups were significantly improved after treatment for six weeks, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the control group, the MIP, PIF, FVC, BBS, FMA-LE motor function score and 10 m MWS were significantly improved after treatment for six weeks in the sling group and the combined group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared with the sling group, the MIP, PIF, FVC, BBS score, FMA-LE motor function score and 10 m MWS in the combined group were significantly higher after treatment for six weeks, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:Sling exercise therapy combined with inspiratory muscle strength training can effectively improve the balance function and walking function for stroke patients with hemiplegia, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Keywords

• stroke;hemiplegia;sling exercise therapy;inspiratory muscle strength training;balance function;walking function