Respiratory disorders associated with stroke and the role of physiotherapy in the treatment of these disorders

Stroke is a common neurological disease that can have a negative effect on all parts of the body. The respiratory system is one of the parts of the body that may be damaged by stroke. The respiratory disorders caused by stroke can occur in all three sections of the breath; including metabolic respiration, behavioral respiration and emotional respiration. Disorder in each of these sections cause many problems in patients. The metabolic respiration disorder called sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is the most dangerous of these diseases. SDB, which is a risk factor for stroke, may occur due to damage to the central nervous system or inefficiency of the muscular system. Also several other diseases may cause SDB. Unfortunately there is insufficient study about these respiratory disorders and treatment of them. The lack of evidence can be seen in rehabilitation and physical treatment of SDB. However, available limited studies show that physical therapy can improve breathing pattern and respiratory disorders in patient with stroke.