Objective To explore the impact of inspiratory muscle training(IMT)on enhancing cardio-pulmonary fitness and inspiratory muscle performance among hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods A total of 58 hemiplegic stroke survivors treated at the Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between January 2012 and January 2023 were enrolled,and randomly divided into an IMT group and a control group,each of 29.Both groups were given a 12-week health education and rou-tine rehabilitation including physiotherapy and aerobic exercise,while the IMT group was additionally provided with IMT.Before and after intervention,both groups were assessed the maximal inspiratory pressure(MIP)and the inspiratory muscle strength index(IMSI)using the Power breathe K5 system,the 6-minute walk distance(6MWD)using the 6-minute walk test(6MWT),as well as the difference value between baseline and post-intervention 6MWD(6MWDd-value).During the process of 6MWT,gas exchange data were recorded using Cosmed K4b2 wirless telemetry gas analyzer,and the peak oxy-gen uptake(VO2peak)and peak ventilation(VEpeak)were determined.Meanwhile,the cardiopulmonary fit-ness and inspiratory muscle performance were compared,and the correlations of 6MWD to VO2peak and VEpeak were assessed,respectively.Results After intervention,a significant increase was observed in MIP,IMSI,6MWD,VO2peak,and VEpeak in both groups(P<0.05).Moreover,the IMT group demonstrat-ed more significant increases in MIP,IMSI,6MWDd-value,VO2peak,and VEpeak compared to the con-trol group(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was found in 6MWD between the two groups af-ter the intervention(P>0.05).Although 6MWD was positively correlated with VO2peak(r=0.298,P<0.05)and VEpeak(r=0.813,P<0.01),the 6MWDd-value was not significantly correlated with 6MWD,VO2peak or VEpeak(P>0.05).Meanwhile,6MWD and IMT can positively predict VO2peak(6MWD:B=0.023,P<0.01;IMT:B=0.341,P<0.01)and VEpeak(6MWD:B=0.503,P<0.01;IMT:B=7.486,P<0.01).Conclusion IMT can enhance cardiopulmonary fitness and inspiratory muscle performance in stroke sur-vivors with hemiplegia.Consequently,it is suggested that the integration of IMT with conventional stroke rehabilitation strategies may yield beneficial outcomes.Moreover,the six-minute walking test may be used to assess improvements in oxygen uptake and ventilation in stroke patients indirectly.