This study aims to investigate the differences in muscle recruitment of the diaphragm (assessed using ultrasound), the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and trunk muscles (both measured via surface electromyography (sEMG)), during loaded breathing training performed on both stable and unstable surfaces. The goal is to understand the interaction between the inspiratory and trunk muscles during Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) across these two surface conditions.
Age ≥ 40 years and < 80 years
Breathing spontaneously
Clinically diagnosed with ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke
Stroke duration from onset between 1 and 12 months
Acute myocardial infarction or acute heart failure
Acute pain in any part of the body
History of chronic respiratory illness or positive clinical signs of impaired respiratory function (such as shortness of breath, hypoxemia, chronic cough, and sputum retention)
Presence of a nasal feeding tube, tracheal tube, or any condition that prevents the measurement or implementation of the study procedures