Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a life-threatening condition with long-term complications including respiratory tract infections, respiratory muscle weakness, and abnormal lung functions. This study, therefore, has been designed to ascertain the effect of chest resistance exercise and chest expansion exercise on respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and chest mobility in children with post-operative CDH.

With the advances in surgical and neonatal treatment, the survival rates in children with CDH have been improved in the last decades. The surviving children may suffer from long-term complications such as impairments in lung growth (lung hypoplasia), cardiovascular disorders, pulmonary hypertension, gastrointestinal problems, and recurrent occurrence of lower respiratory tract infection. One of the physical therapy techniques used to treat chest disorders via encouraging the normal alignment of respiratory muscles with respiratory rhythm is chest resistance exercise through applying resistance to the sternal and coastal areas .

Inclusion Criteria:

• ages between 10 and 14 years.
• the BMI between 20 and 25 Kg/m2. the children were considered as high risky CDH as they developed respiratory distress in the first days of their life.
• CDH was corrected surgically immediately after birth.
• children are still in following upstate in pediatric and physical therapy departments.

Exclusion Criteria:

• physical disability.
• diaphragmatic eventration.
• unable to perform all tests or procedures.
• children with cardiac anomalies

The data sets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

6 months after publication

relevance to the topic of the study and approval of all co-authors within 1 month of receiving the request.