Respiratory training combined with core training improves lower limb function in patients with ischemic stroke

Objective: To analyze the effect of respiratory training combined with core training on lower limb function and quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods: Data of 88 patients with hemiplegia after stroke admitted to Affiliated Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Quality of life and lower limb function were evaluated in the control group (conventional rehabilitation training, n = 40) and the research group (respiratory training combined with core stabilization training, n = 48) using Short Form-36 (SF-36) and with Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS), respectively. According to the mean value of life quality after treatment, patients were divided into a low quality of life group and a high quality of life group. Logistics regression was used to analyze the risk factors affecting patients’ quality of life. Changes in pulmonary function parameters (including forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)) were observed before and after treatment. Patients’ balance ability was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results: Compared with the control group, the research group had evidently higher SF-36 score (P < 0.001), markedly lower WGS score (P < 0.001) and much better FEV1 and FVC (P < 0.001). After treatment, the BBS score of the research group increased evidently compared with that of the control group (P < 0.001). Logistics regression revealed that the duration of education, national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) score at admission and rehabilitation program were independent risk factors affecting the quality of life of patients (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Breathing training combined with core muscle training can effectively improve lower limb function and daily living activities in stroke patients. In addition, duration of education, NIHSS score at admission and rehabilitation program were identified as independent risk factors affecting the life quality of stroke patients.