Biomedical system to evaluate pulmonary function in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a neurological disorder considered the second major cause of death worldwide, leading to severe respiratory dysfunctions, evident in reduced respiratory muscle strength and the presence of muscle imbalances that directly affect the pulmonary mechanics of these patients. Objective: Evaluate the possible metric properties of a biomedical system, the IBI. Method: the study was conducted with 25 hemiparetic stroke patients of both sexes, using a manovacuometer, peak flow, and SG IBI for respiratory measurements. Results: Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the IBI biomedical system and peak flow and manovacuometer measurements, which were smaller than the predicted values. Conclusion: The results suggest that the IBI biomedical system is potentially valid for pulmonary function measurement, sensitive to air flow variations and generates maximum respiratory pressure. As such, it is an important resource for prescribing intensity and controlling progression in pulmonary rehabilitation.