Background: We planned to investigate the effect of preoperative short period intensive physical therapy on lung functions, gas-exchange, and capacity of diffusion, and ventilation-perfusion distribution of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: Sixty patients with lung cancer, who were deemed operable, were randomly allocated into two groups. Intensive physical therapy was performed in patients in the study group before operation. Both groups received routine physical therapy after operation. Results: There was no difference in pulmonary function tests between the two groups. Intensive physical therapy statistically significantly increased peripheral blood oxygen saturation. At least one complication was noted in 5 patients (16.7%) in the control group, and 2 (6.7%), in the study group. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0,4). The hospital stay has been found to be statistically significantly shortened by intensive physical therapy (p <0.001). Ventilation-perfusion distribution was found to be significantly effected by intensive physical therapy. The change was prominent in the the contralateral lung (p <0.001). Conclusions: Intensive physical therapy appeared to increase oxygen saturation, reduce hospital stay, and change the ventilation/perfusion distribution. It had a significant, positive effect on the exercise capacity of patients.

Multiple sclerosis clearly impairs respiratory functions; maximal mouth pressures are more severely reduced. This impairment increases with multiple sclerosis-induced disability level but is found to be independent from duration of disease.

Objectives-The respiratory effects of exposure to welding fumes have been investigated in numerous studies; but results of these studies have not been consistent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the respiratory effects of welding exposure in a large group ofmanual arc welders exposed primarily to mild steel welding processes in confined spaces without respiratory protection. Methods-Respiratory symptoms and spirometry were studied in 110 welders and 55 controls. The welders and controls were of similar average age and height; smoking habits of the groups were similar. Chest x ray films were taken to exclude people with radiological abnormalities that may influence pulmonary function tests. Welders were grouped according to smoking habits and duration of employment (<20 years or >20 years). Results-No gross radiological abnormalities were found. Respiratory symptoms and chronic bronchitis were more prevalent in welders (P < 0.05). Welders who were smokers showed a higher frequency of chronic bronchitis than controls who smoked (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the occurrence of chronic bronchitis was found between welders who smoked and welders who were non-smokers or exsmokers. Compared with the controls, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF) were significantly lower in welders (mean values of FVC for welders and controls were 86-06 (25.74) and 96-40 (13.03); and values for FEV1 were 87-54 (13-70) and 95-36 (12.40) respectively; P < 0-01).There was no significant difference in pulmonary function tests between welders who were non-smokers and controls who were non-smokers; whereas FVC, FEV1, PEF, and MMEF were significantly lower in welders who smoked than controls who smoked (P < 0-01). There were no significant differences in pulmonary function tests and occurrence of chronic bronchitis between welders with more or less than 20 years at work. Conclusion-Welders working in conditions of inadequate ventilation, have increased risk of chronic bronchitis and impairment of pulmonary function.(Occup Environ Med 1995;52:800-803)

A home-based rehabilitation programme for patients with Parkinson's disease helped to improve motor performance compared to patients who did not take advantage of a regular, professionally designed exercise programme.

Background: Previous research has found conflictive results regarding the benefits of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Also, involvement of postural stability is a rising concern in chronic lung diseases but its role in CF patients is poorly understood. Our aim was to investigate the effects of IMT in CF patients as well as analysing the factors which may be related to postural stability. Methods: Thirty-six children aged between 8 and 18 years with CF were randomly allocated to either "comprehensive chest PT" group (PT) or "IMT alongside comprehensive chest PT" group (PT+IMT). Both groups trained for 8 weeks. Dynamic and static postural stability tests on Biodex Balance system ® , spirometry, respiratory muscle strength and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks of training. Determinants of postural stability was also analysed on baseline values. Results: Maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) was found to be an independent predictor for overall limits of stability (LOS) score explaining %26 of variance (R = 0.514, p = 0.003). Overall LOS score, FVC, FEV 1 , peak expiratory flow, MEP and 6MWD significantly improved in both groups, with no significant differences between groups. Maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) also improved in both groups but the magnitude of improvement in MIP was greater in PT+IMT group (38 cmH 2 O vs 13 cmH 2 O; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Combining IMT with chest PT failed to provide further improvements, except for MIP, suggesting that a comprehensive chest PT program may be individually effective in improving overall LOS score, spirometry, respiratory muscle strength and 6MWD. Trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov; registration number: NCT03375684.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the timed sit-to-stand (STS) test performances of healthy young adults and to investigate the relationship of timed STS tests with 6-minute walk test (6MWT). A cross-sectional study was performed. A total of 40 healthy volunteers (mean age: 21.7 ± 1.2 years) were evaluated with 10, 30, and 60 seconds STS tests and 6MWT. Fatigue and shortness of breath were rated using Borg category-ratio scale (CR10) before and after each test. Weekly energy expenditures of volunteers were calculated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire. 30 and 60 seconds STS tests were moderately (r = 0.611 and r = 0.647, respectively) (P < .001) and 10 seconds STS test was weakly (r = 0.344) (P = .028) correlated with 6MWT. Among correlations of each STS test with 6MWT, none of them was statistically stronger to one another (P > .05). Borg fatigue scores after 10, 30, and 60 seconds STS tests were weakly correlated with fatigue score after 6MWT (r = 0.321, r = 0.378, and r = 0.405, respectively) (P < .05). Weekly energy expenditure (MET-min/week) was moderately correlated with 10, 30, and 60 seconds STS tests and 6MWT (r = 0.533, r = 0.598, r = 0.598, and r = 0.547, respectively) (P < .001). Considering the statistically significant relationship between timed STS tests and 6MWT, any of the timed STS tests may be used for a quick and alternative measurement of physical performance and functional capacity in healthy young adults.

These results suggest that IMT has a positive effect on maximum inspiratory pressure in subjects with LOPD who are under ERT.

As a conclusion of our study, we found that respiratory muscle strength improved by inspiratory and expiratory muscle training in patients with slowly progressive neuromuscular disease.