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We aimed to investigate whether changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxyhemoglobin (O 2 Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) associates with inspiratory muscle effort during inspiratory threshold loading (ITL) in healthy participants. Participants performed an incremental ITL. Breathing pattern, partial pressure of end-tidal CO 2 (P ET CO 2 ), mouth pressure and O 2 Hb and HHb over the right dorsolateral PFC, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and diaphragm/intercostals (Dia/IC) were monitored. Fourteen healthy participants (8 men; 29 ± 5 years) completed testing. Dyspnea was higher post- than pre-ITL (5 ± 1 vs. 0 ± 1, respectively; P<0.05). PFC O 2 Hb increased (P < 0.001) and HHb decreased (P = 0.001) at low loads but remained stable with increasing ITL intensities. PFC total hemoglobin increased at task failure compared to rest. SCM HHb increased throughout increasing intensities. SCM and Dia/IC total hemoglobin increased in the at task failure compared to rest. P ET CO 2 did not change (P = 0.528). PFC is activated early during the ITL but does not show central fatigue at task failure despite greater dyspnea and an imbalance of SCM oxygen demand and delivery., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The expansion of the rib cage and abdomen occurs in a synchronic way during a coordinated contraction of the diaphragm and the abdominal and intercostal muscles under normal conditions and healthy. The presence of restrictive respiratory disease may lead to uncoordinated action of the respiratory muscles which affects breathing pattern and chest wall volumes. The aim of this study was to evaluate chest wall volumes, chest wall asynchrony and inspiratory paradoxical movement of breathing, as well as the influence of the time of disease diagnosis in subjects with Parkinson's disease and post-Stroke in comparison to healthy individuals., Methods: Total and compartmental chest wall volumes, chest wall asynchrony and paradoxical movement were measured at rest in a seated position by Optoelectronic Plethysmography in 76 individuals (29 healthy individuals, 20 post-Stroke and 27 Parkinson's disease subjects). Post-stroke and Parkinson's disease subjects were also grouped according to the length of diagnosis., Results: In both groups with restrictive respiratory disease we observed that pulmonary rib cage compartment (VRCp) volume is reduced when compared to healthy subjects (p <0.05). This same pattern was observed when analyzing post-stroke subjects with more than three years of diagnosis and Parkinson's subjects with less than three years of diagnosis (p<0.05). Furthermore, post-stroke subjects with inspiratory paradoxical movement showed decreased total and compartmental chest wall volumes (p<0.05), while individuals with Parkinson's disease with inspiratory paradoxical movement only presented a decrease in pulmonary rib cage compartment volume (p<0.05)., Conclusion: Our study presents new findings for better understanding of chest wall volumes and chest wall asynchrony in post-stroke and Parkinson's disease individuals. Half of the subjects with post-Stroke and Parkinson's disease presented inspiratory paradox movement, but changes in breathing pattern was especially observed in post-stroke subjects with more than three years of diagnosis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess how volume-oriented incentive spirometry applied to patients after a stroke modifies the total and compartmental chest wall volume variations, including both the right and left hemithoraces, compared with controls., Methods: Twenty poststroke patients and 20 age-matched healthy subjects were studied by optoelectronic plethysmography during spontaneous quiet breathing (QB), during incentive spirometry, and during the recovery period after incentive spirometry., Results: Incentive spirometry was associated with an increased chest wall volume measured at the pulmonary rib cage, abdominal rib cage and abdominal compartment (P = .001) and under 3 conditions (P < .001). Compared with healthy control subjects, the tidal volume (VT) of the subjects with stroke was 24.7, 18.0, and 14.7% lower during QB, incentive spirometry, and postincentive spirometry, respectively. Under all 3 conditions, the contribution of the abdominal compartment to VT was greater in the stroke subjects (54.1, 43.2, and 48.9%) than in the control subjects (43.7, 40.8, and 46.1%, P = .039). In the vast majority of subjects (13/20 and 18/20 during QB and incentive spirometry, respectively), abdominal expansion precedes rib cage expansion during inspiration. Greater asymmetry between the right and left hemithoracic expansions occurred in stroke subjects compared with control subjects, but it decreased during QB (62.5%, P = .002), during incentive spirometry (19.7%), and postincentive spirometry (67.6%, P = .14)., Conclusions: Incentive spirometry promotes increased expansion in all compartments of the chest wall and reduces asymmetric expansion between the right and left parts of the pulmonary rib cage; therefore, it should be considered as a tool for rehabilitation., (Copyright © 2014 by Daedalus Enterprises.)

Background: Despite the growing number of studies reporting therapeutic success in water environments, research involving aquatic exercise among patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is scarce. This study evaluates the impact of low-intensity water and floor exercises on COPD., Methods: Forty two individuals with moderate to very severe COPD, divided into 3 groups: Control Group (CG), Floor Group (FG) and the Aquatic Group (AG). All participants were assessed using spirometry, respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP), the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Medical Research Council (MRC), BODE index and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)., Results: A difference was recorded after intervention for the 6MWT in the AG (p = 0.02); for VEF(1) in the FG (p = 0.00) and AG (p = 0.01); for MIP in the FG (p = 0.01) and AG (p = 0.02); for MEP in the FG (p = 0.02) and AG (p = 0.01); the MRC fell in the AG (p = 0.00). The FG showed improved quality of life evidenced by the total score on the SGRQ (p = 0.00). The BODE index decreased in the FG (p = 0.00) and AG (p = 0.01)., Conclusion: Results show that both forms of low-intensity physical exercise benefit patients with moderate and very severe COPD. The AG exhibited additional benefits in physical ability, indicating a new therapeutic modality targeting patients with COPD., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)