Inspiratory muscle training of moderate intensity improves respiratory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness, and diaphragm mobility in elderly women and it should be considered to minimize changes associated with senescence.

The WBV is a training that could improve respiratory muscle strength and quality of life and promote different ventilatory strategies in chest wall and thoracoabdominal compartments in healthy elderly adults.

This study evaluated the immediate effects of respiratory muscle stretching on chest wall kinematics and electromyographic activity in COPD patients. 28 patients with COPD were randomized into two groups: 14 to the treatment group (TG) and 14 to the control group (CG). The TG underwent a stretching protocol of the rib cage muscles, while the CG remained at rest under similar conditions. After a single session, TG increased the tidal volume of the pulmonary rib cage (Vrcp) (p=0.020) and tidal volume of abdominal rib cage (Vrca) (p=0.043) variations and their percentages in relation to the thoracic wall, Vrcp% (p=0.044) and Vrca% (p=0.022). Also, TG decreased the end-expiratory Vrcp (p=0.013) and the end-inspiratory Vrcp (p=0.011) variations. In addition, there was a reduction in respiratory rate (RR) (p=0.011) and minute volume (MV) (p=0.035), as well as an increase in expiratory time (Te) (p=0.026). There was also an immediate reduction in sternocleidomastoid (p=0.043) and upper trapezium (p=0.034) muscle electrical activity. Then, the study supports the use of stretching to improve COPD chest wall mobility with positive effects on chest wall mechanics, on volume distribution and electromyography.

WBV training improves MVIC of knee extensors in patients with CKD on HD in the interdialytic period. WBV training could be considered in the management of patients with CKD.

BACKGROUND: Heliox and forward-leaning posture (torso inclined forward at 50 -60°with the elbows resting on the thighs) are adjuncts in the administration of nebulized bronchodilator to patients with acute asthma. METHODS: We randomized 59 patients who presented to the emergency department in severe asthma crisis, into 4 treatment groups: nebulized bronchodilator ؉ oxygen; nebulized bronchodilator ؉ oxygen ؉ forward-leaning posture; nebulized bronchodilator ؉ heliox; and nebulized bronchodilator ؉ heliox ؉ forward-leaning posture. Before and after the bronchodilator treatments the subjects were seated with torso erect, breathing room air. Each subject received 2 doses, 20 min apart, of nebulized fenoterol (2.5 mg) plus ipratropium bromide (0.25 mg) in 3 mL of 0.9% saline, delivered with a semi-closed valved aerosol reservoir. The nebulizer was run with oxygen or 80:20 heliox. The post-treatment pulmonary function tests were performed 15 min after the second nebulization. The group's mean age was 35.1 ؎ 13.6 y, and there were 20 men and 39 women. RESULTS: The oxygen ؉ forward-leaning-posture group had a greater FEV 1 improvement than the oxygen group (59% vs 38%, P ‫؍‬ .02). The heliox ؉ forwardleaning-posture group had a greater FEV 1 improvement than the oxygen group (103% vs 38%, P ‫؍‬ .001) and the heliox group (103% vs 42%, P ‫؍‬ .03). The heliox group had greater reduction in respiratory rate than the oxygen group (P ‫؍‬ .03). The heliox ؉ forward-leaning-posture group had significantly greater peak expiratory flow improvement than any of the other groups. CON-CLUSIONS: Heliox plus forward-leaning posture during bronchodilator nebulization improves bronchodilator efficacy in patients with severe acute asthma. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT00922350).