Impact of inspiratory muscle training on aspiration symptoms in patients with dysphagia following ischemic stroke.

Objective: To investigate the impact of inspiratory muscle training on lung function and swallowing function in patients with dysphagia-induced aspiration following ischemic stroke and to evaluate the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training on aspiration symptoms.

Methods: Fifty-eight inpatients with dysphagia-induced aspiration following ischemic stroke were selected and randomly divided into a control group (n = 29, conventional swallowing therapy) and a treatment group (n = 29, conventional swallowing therapy plus inspiratory muscle training). Both groups received conventional swallowing function training, including oral sensory training, oral motor training, airway safety protection training, and neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy for 10-20 min per session, twice daily for 2 weeks. The treatment group additionally received inspiratory muscle resistance training using the POWERbreathe device for 20 min per session, twice daily for 2 weeks. Swallowing function was assessed using the Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS), Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS), and Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) based on the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) before and after treatment. Lung function, including maximal peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) and forced vital capacity (FVC), was evaluated using the Miraclink X-SCRIBE cardiac stress testing system.

Results: Before treatment, there were no significant differences in FOIS, FDS, and PAS scores between the two groups (P > 0.05), while post-treatment, both groups showed significant improvements in these indicators (P < 0.05), with the treatment group showing more significant improvements than the control group (P < 0.05). Further, before treatment, there were no significant differences in FVC and PEF scores between the two groups (P > 0.05), whereas post-treatment, the treatment group showed significant improvements in these indicators (P < 0.05) and the control group showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). The treatment group also showed more significant improvements than the control group (P < 0.05). Finally, a correlation analysis revealed a significant linear relationship between FVC and PEF in the post-treatment PAS in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Inspiratory muscle training can improve lung function in patients with dysphagia following ischemic stroke, as it develops swallowing function more effectively than conventional swallowing function training alone. Moreover, inspiratory muscle training is effective in treating aspiration caused by dysphagia, with enhancements in aspiration related to improved lung function.