Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a combination of inspiratory diaphragm exercise and expiratory pursed-lip breathing exercise on pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle activation of stroke patients. [Methods] Thirty stroke patients were randomly and equally allocated to an experimental group and a control group, and the intervention was conducted five times per week for four weeks. In each session, both groups received rehabilitative exercise treatment for 30 minutes, and a feedback breathing device exercise for 15 minutes. In addition, the experimental group performed a combination of inspiratory diaphragm breathing exercise and the expiratory pursed-lip breathing exercise for 15 minutes. Prior to and after the intervention, patients' pulmonary functions were measured using a spirometer. The pulmonary functions assessed were tests included FVC, FEV1, FVC/FEV1, PEF, VC, TV, IC, ERV, IRV.[Results] With respect to changes in the pulmonary functions of both groups after the intervention, the experimental group showed significant differences in FVC/FEV1, TV, and IC, but not in FVC, FEV1, PEF, VC, ERV, and IRV. The control group showed no significant differences. There were significant differences in FEV1, TV, and IC between the two groups, but no significant differences in FVC, PEF, FVC/FEV1, VC, ERV, and IRV after the experiment.[Conclusions] The experimental group, which conducted a combination of breathing machine exercise and the respiratory muscle strengthening exercise, saw their respiratory ability increase more significantly than the control group. The combination breathing exercise was found to improve pulmonary functions of stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of ramp gait training using lower extremity patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on chronic stroke patients’ dynamic balance ability. [Subjects and Methods] In total, 30 stroke patients participated in this study, and they were assigned randomly and equally to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received exercise treatment for 30 min and ramp gait training with PNF for 30 min. The control group received exercise treatment for 30 min and ground gait training for 30 min. The interventions were conducted in 30 min sessions, three times per week for four week. The subjects were assessed with the Berg balance scale test, timed up and go test, and functional reach test before and after the experiment and the results were compared. [Results] After the intervention, the BBS and FRT values had significantly increased and the TUG value had significantly decreased in the experimental group; however, the BBS, FRT, and TUG values showed no significant differences in the control group. In addition, differences between the two groups before the intervention and after the intervention were not significant. [Conclusion] In conclusion, ramp gait training with PNF improved stroke patients’ dynamic balance ability, and a good outcome of ramp gait training with PNF is also expected for other neurological system disease patients.