Description

Stroke is one of the most important causes of chronic disability in adults. Hemiplegia and hemiparesis are common neurological conditions following stroke. Neurological findings associated with hemiplegia negatively affect posture, muscle tone, motor control, voluntary motor activation and trunk muscle synergy. The effect of stroke on the respiratory system depends on the structures affected by the lesion. The continuation of normal ventilation also depends on the influence of the neuromuscular system. The interference in trunk muscle synergies brings about loss of respiratory muscle function. Symptoms associated with respiratory problems, especially dyspnea, reduce exercise performance. On the other hand, motor control function losses; It disrupts the coordination of the respiratory muscles and changes the thickness of the diaphragm muscle, causing asymmetry between the affected and unaffected sides. Developing asymmetry can lead to progressive loss of strength in the respiratory muscles.

In the evaluation of stroke patients, measurements of the pulmonary system are rarely included. It is thought that the fact that patients do not have symptoms and/or diseases related to the pulmonary system before the development of stroke may explain the insufficient attention to respiratory evaluations. However, in a few studies, respiratory system evaluations were also made in stroke patients; It has been reported that there are effects related to pulmonary functions such as partial or total diaphragm on the affected side and weakening of intercostal and abdominal muscles.