Assessment of Inspiratory Muscle Strength in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive disease of the nervous system. It is characterized by the cardinal features of rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, and postural instability. Respiratory muscles share structural and functional characteristics with limb muscles and are similarly affected by rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Physiotherapists aim at improving strength, balance and mobility of patients with Parkinson’s yet the vital aspect of respiratory muscle strength training is often overlooked. Comparison study was carried out on 30 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 30 age and gender match normal individuals with mean age 69.5±7.42 were evaluated by using Inspiratory muscle training device and inspiratory muscle strength was checked. Inspiratory muscle strength in patients with Parkinson’s disease was 46±24.30 cm of H2O compared with age matched normal healthy individuals was 74±9.32 cm of H2O. p value was <0.05 which showed significant decrease in inspiratory muscle strength in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The study concluded that there is decrease in inspiratory muscle strength in Parkinson’s patients as compared to healthy individuals.