Respiratory Muscle Strength and Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure and Their Main Correlated Factors: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Heart failure may cause peripheral and respiratory muscle alterations, dyspnea, fatigue, and exercise intolerance, worsening the quality of life of patients.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to analyze respiratory muscle strength and quality of life of patients with heart failure and correlate them with clinical variables and functional classification.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients with heart failure.

Efficacy of a rehabilitation protocol on pulmonary and respiratory muscle function and ultrasound evaluation of diaphragm and quadriceps femoris in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome: a series of cases.

This study assessed the efficacy of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on pulmonary and respiratory muscle function and thickness of quadriceps femoris and diaphragm of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. This series of cases followed nine patients who performed PR twice a week for six weeks. Patients received the following PR program: lung expansion therapy; respiratory muscle training; upper limb strength exercises; aerobic exercises on a treadmill.

Distinct phenotypes in COVID-19 may require distinct pulmonary rehabilitation strategies.

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has distinct clinical manifestations that can vary from an asymptomatic condition to severe acute respiratory failure. Phenotypes are attributable to different pathophysiological mechanisms and require different treatment strategies. The assessment and identification of different phenotypes can guide therapy configurations such as oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, airway management, and tracheal intubation.

Effects of electrical muscle stimulation early in the quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscle of critically ill patients.

Background: Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is applied to critically ill patients in order to improve their muscle strength, thereby preventing hypotrophy and promoting functional recovery.

Objective: To assess the effects of early EMS on the range of movement of the ankle joint, and on thigh and leg circumference in critically ill patients.

Methods: This is a prospective randomized clinical trial comprising 11 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.

Influence of early mobilization on respiratory and peripheral muscle strength in critically ill patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an early mobilization protocol on respiratory and peripheral muscles in critically ill patients.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted with 59 male and female patients on mechanical ventilation. The patients were divided into a conventional physical therapy group (control group, n=14) that received the sector's standard physical therapy program and an early mobilization group (n=14) that received a systematic early mobilization protocol.

Influence of peripheral muscle strength on the decannulation success rate.

Introduction: Tracheostomy is probably the most common surgical procedure in critically ill patients and is generally performed to facilitate mechanical ventilation weaning. Evidence-based guidelines have confirmed the benefits of tracheostomy weaning protocols and of the physiotherapists engagement in this process; however, no consensus decannulation criteria are currently available. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of peripheral muscle strength and other indicators on decannulation success.