The immediate effect of diaphragm taping with breathing exercise on muscle tone and stiffness of respiratory muscles and SpO2 in stroke patient.

Only 14 participants were included in each group, so the findings are limited by small sample size. The paper does not name a single primary outcome among muscle tone, stiffness, and SpO2. Outcomes were measured immediately after one intervention session, so the study does not show lasting effects. There were no statistically significant differences between the taping plus breathing exercise group and the breathing exercise only group. SpO2 decreased significantly in the taping plus breathing exercise group, and the paper does not report longer-term oxygen outcomes or how this decline affected patients. The authors state that the findings could not be compared with other studies because previous studies on muscle tone and stiffness of respiratory muscles in stroke patients are lacking. The paper does not report whether participants or outcome assessors were blinded. Participants were selected with K-MMSE 24 points or above, Modified Ashworth Scale grade 2 or above, and no muscular disorders, and people with certain tubes or braces were excluded, so the results may not apply to all hospitalized stroke patients.

Do not conclude that diaphragm taping is better than breathing exercise alone, because the study found no statistically significant difference between the groups. Also do not read the within-group increases in muscle tone as proof of clinical benefit, because the effects were measured immediately and SpO2 declined significantly in the taping group.