| Sumario: | Background: Limited chest expansion and asymmetry in the respiratory muscles after a stroke lead to poor ventilation and reduced physical performance. Objectives: To determine the effect of chest expansion resistance exercise and respiratory muscle stretching on respiratory function and gait endurance in patients with stroke. Methods: Thirty stroke patients were randomly assigned to a chest expansion resistance group (CERG), a respiratory muscle stretching group (RMSG), and a control group (CG). CERG and RMSG received chest expansion resistance and respiratory muscle stretching, respectively, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, and gait endurance were measured before and after the intervention period. Results: The experimental groups, CERG and RMSG, showed significant improvements in respiratory function variables (p <.05). For respiratory muscle strength variables, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) in the CERG and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) in the RMSG showed significant changes compared to the CG (p <.05). Both CERG and RMSG also showed significant improvements in the 6MWT compared to the CG (p <.05). Conclusion: Chest expansion resistance exercise would be a more effective method, while both chest expansion resistance exercise and respiratory muscle stretching are helpful in improving respiratory function and gait endurance.
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