Structured different exercise protocols improve lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in stroke patients. A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The effect of core stabilization exercises (CSE) alone, or in combination with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Kinesio taping (KT) on lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke is not fully known.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of NMES and KT applied with CSE on lung functions, respiratory muscle strength, and thickness in patients with stroke.

Methods: A total of 45 stroke patients were randomly assigned to the core stabilization exercises (CSE) group, CSE+KT group or CSE+NMES group, respectively.