Objective: To explore the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on early rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: Twenty patients with ischemic stroke who met the selection criteria from January 2016 to January 2017 were recruited and randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and pulmonary rehabilitation group (n = 10). The pulmonary rehabilitation was administered on the basis of routine rehabilitation treatment for 4 weeks in pulmonary rehabilitation group, and 4 weeks of routine rehabilitation treatment alone was administered in control group. The quality of life, depression, maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the muscle strength extraction rate were compared between the two groups before and after intervention.

Results: After intervention, the scores of physiological function, physiological pain, vitality, social function and mental health in the pulmonary rehabilitation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in the scores of physiological role, general health and emotional function (all P > 0.05). After intervention, the score of Hamilton Depression Scale in the pulmonary rehabilitation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After intervention, PImax in pulmonary rehabilitation group was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in NIHSS score (P > 0.05). The muscle strength extraction rates of pulmonary rehabilitation group and control group after intervention were both significantly higher than those before intervention (both P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Pulmonary rehabilitation therapy combined with routine rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the quality of life, depression and respiratory function of patients in the rehabilitation process of stroke.