The purpose of this study was to examine whether if the effect of standing with assistance of the tilt table on diaphragm excursion and thickness in the stroke patients with tracheotomy.

40-45 stroke patients with tracheotomy were passive tilting (α=0°, 30°, 60°) by an electric tilt table in the random order. The diaphragm excursion and thickness were measured by ultrasonography on three tilting during the quiet breathing. Besides, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to assess the reliability of the diaphragm ultrasonography in this population.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. currently diagnosed with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke by CT or MRI;
2. right unilateral or bilateral limb with hemiparesis;
3. age over 18 years;
4. BMI<35 kg/m2;
5. within 2 weeks to 12 months；
6. the tracheotomy tube replacement;
7. non first time standing assisted with tilt table.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. undergoing mechanical ventilation;
2. postural hypotension;
3. myocardial infarction in the first 3 months;
4. deep vein thrombosis;
5. angina or acute heart failure;
6. complicated with other primary pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis,；pneumothorax, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and so on;
7. a past episode of abdominal or chest surgery.

The stroke patients with tracheotomy was came from the Shenzhen Second People's Hospital .