PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of feedback respiratory training on chest expansion and pulmonary function in patients with stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with stroke were randomly assigned to two groups: the feedback respiratory training group (experimental) (n = 13) and the control group (control) (n = 14). Feedback respiratory training and conventional physical therapy were performed by the experimental group. Conventional physical therapy was performed by the control group. Both groups received training three times per week for four weeks. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in chest expansion after training in the experimental group. Gains in chest expansion were greater in the experimental than in control group. Values of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, peak expiratory flow, vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume, and inspiratory reserve volume in pulmonary function tests increased post-training in the experimental group. With the exception of expiratory reserve volume, all of these pulmonary function test measures showed greater gains in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Feedback respiratory training is effective for the improvement of chest expansion and pulmonary function in patients with stroke.

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