The impact of two kinds of Liuzijue Qigong on respiratory and motor function in early stroke recovery patients.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to assess the impact of two kinds of Liuzijue Qigong on respiratory and motor functions of hemiplegic stroke patients with impaired balance and respiratory function in early-phase recovery rehabilitation.

METHODS

66 Stroke patients were randomly divided into three groups: Liuzijue Qigong group (LG), ancient Liuzijue Qigong group (AG), and the control group (CG). The primary outcomes Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and secondary outcomes Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) Scale and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was measured at baseline (T0), after 2 weeks of treatment (T1), and after 4 weeks follow-up (T2).

RESULTS

The within-group comparison results showed that compared to T0, all three groups of stroke patients had significant increases (P < 0.05) in TIS, MIP, MEP, FEV1, FVC and BBS at T1 and T2. CG and LG had significant increases (P < 0.05) in FMA-UE at T1 and T2, but AG had no statistically significant differences at T1 (P > 0.05). The intergroup comparison results showed that at T1-T0 and T2-T0, LG had significantly higher TIS, MIP, MEP, FEV1, FVC and FMA-UE scores than AG and CG (P < 0.017). There were no statistically significant differences in the intergroup comparison of BBS at T1-T0 and T2-T0 (P > 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Both forms of Liuzijue Qigong resulted in notable enhancements in the respiratory and motor functions of hemiplegic stroke patients with respiratory and balance dysfunction.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100051325, Registered on September 20, 2021.