ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of external phrenic nerve electrical stimulation on respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary ventilation function, and trunk stability in patients with limb dysfunction after a stroke. MethodsA total of 80 patients with limb dysfunction after a stroke were selected and randomly divided into a control group or an observation group, with 40 cases in each group. The control group received a routine rehabilitation intervention, based on which the observation group received external phrenic nerve electrical stimulation additionally. Both groups received the intervention for 6 weeks. The diaphragm function, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary ventilation function, and trunk stability of the two groups were compared. ResultsAfter 6 weeks of intervention, the diaphragm displacement during eupnea, the diaphragm displacement during maximum inspiration, the maximal inspiratory pressure, the maximal expiratory pressure, the forced vital capacity, the forced expiratory volume in one second, the peak expiratory flow, the Sheikh trunk control test score, and the Berg Balance Scale score in the observation group were greater or higher than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). ConclusionExternal phrenic nerve electrical stimulation combined with a routine rehabilitation intervention can effectively improve the diaphragm function, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary ventilation function, and trunk stability in patients with limb dysfunction after a stroke.

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