The case for inspiratory muscle training in COPD

British Thoracic Society guideline on pulmonary rehabilitation in adults: accredited by NICE

“…It can therefore deliver strength and endurance type training. It appears safe and well tolerated in individuals with a variety of diagnoses, including COPD 133. A pilot study in 36 patients with COPD found that use of IMT in addition to an exercise programme led to greater improvement in walk test distance than those who undertook exercise alone,134 although a subsequent RCT in 25 patients with COPD found no such benefit 135.…”

Inspiratory muscle training improves aerobic capacity and pulmonary function in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled study

“…5 The value of inspiratory muscle training as an add-on to a general exercise training programme is still under debate. 6,7 While this exercise training method always results in significant improvements in inspiratory muscle function, its additional effects on more clinically relevant outcomes (functional exercise capacity and quality of life) are insufficiently supported by scientific evidence. 5 Several studies showed the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training in patients with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, morbid obesity and restrictive thoracic disease.…”

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a home-based inspiratory muscle training programme in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using multiple inspiratory muscle tests

“…Three main factors contribute to the uncertainty and debate about the clinical benefit of IMT in COPD patients [11,12]. First, most clinical studies assess the effects of IMT on inspiratory muscle strength using the measurement of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) [11].…”