The Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Abdominal Accessory Respiratory Muscle Thickness in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: Correlation With Disease Severity and Expiratory Respiratory Muscle Strength

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. The involvement of respiratory muscles can lead to impairments in respiratory function in these patients. This observational, cross sectional study will include Parkinson's patients at different stages of the disease, with respiratory muscle thickness measured via ultrasonography. The collected data will then be compared with disease severity and expiratory muscle strength. In this study is to evaluate the thickness of abdominal accessory respiratory muscles (rectus abdominis, transversus abdominis, and oblique muscles) using ultrasonography in patients with Parkinson's disease. Additionally, the relationship between disease severity and expiratory respiratory muscle strength will be examined. Respiratory muscle strength will be assessed using maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measurements. Disease severity will be evaluated using standardized clinical scales. These findings will underscore the importance of evaluating respiratory muscles in Parkinson's disease and may contribute to the development of rehabilitation programs targeting respiratory muscles in the later stages of the disease.