The effect of home-based inspiratory muscle training on exercise capacity, exertional dyspnea and pulmonary function in COPD patients

Abstract

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth cause of mortality worldwide. Patients with COPD experience periods of dyspnea, fatigue, and disability, which impact on their life. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term inspiratory muscle training on exercise capacity, exertional dyspnea, and pulmonary lung function.Materials and Methods:A randomized, controlled trial was performed. Thirty patients (27 males, 3 females) with mild to very severe COPD were randomly assigned to a training group (group T) or to a control group (group C). Patients in group T received training for 8 weeks (15 min/day for 6 days/week) with flow-volumetric inspiratory exerciser named (Respivol). Each patient was assessed before and after 8 weeks of training for the following clinical parameters: exercise capacity by 6-min walking test (6MWT), exertional dyspnea by Borg scale, and pulmonary lung function by spirometry. Patients used training together with medical treatment. The data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test.Results:Results showed statistically significant increase in 6MWT at the end of the training from 445.6 ± 22.99 to 491.06 ± 17.67 meters? (P < 0.001) and statistically significant decrease in dyspnea from 3.76 ± 0.64 to 1.13 ± 0.36 (P = 0.0001) in the training group but not in the control group. The values for exercise capacity and dyspnea improved after 8 weeks in group T in comparison with group C (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). No changes were observed in any measure of pulmonary function in both groups.Conclusions:Short-term inspiratory muscle training has beneficial effects on exercise capacity and exertional dyspnea in COPD patients.

Combination of inspiratory and expiratory muscle training in same respiratory cycle versus different cycles in COPD patients: a randomized trial

“…On the other hand, It is well known that lower limb muscle dysfunction is a leading cause of decreased exercise capacity [ 34 ]. Many researchers found IMT helpful in restoring the exercise capacity of patients with COPD, but the effect didn’t reach clinical significance [ 5 , 35 , 36 ]. We also observed no remarkable changes in exercise capacity.…”

Cycle ergometer and inspiratory muscle training offer modest benefit compared with cycle ergometer alone: a comprehensive assessment in stable COPD patients

“… 4 Apart from CET, studies also confirmed that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) may increase inspiratory muscle strength and reduce the severity of dyspnea in COPD patients. 5 , 6 Despite the beneficial effects of IMT on inspiratory muscle strength and endurance, its additional benefits on exercise performance and quality of life did not seem to be significant. 7 As such, future studies in COPD patients should focus specifically on the effect of IMT or IMT + other rehabilitative interventions compared to other IMT-excluded rehabilitations for outcome assessments.…”

Effects of incentive spirometry on cardiopulmonary parameters, functional capacity and glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes

“…Likewise, Bavarsad et al. 34 reported no significant change in pulmonary function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who had eight weeks of IMT using a flow-volumetric incentive exerciser and those who had no IMT. It was posited that it could be because of the structural changes that occur in COPD.…”

“…This disparity may be because these researchers employed low intensity inspiratory loading (30% of maximal static inspiratory) because various studies where higher intensity IMT were employed showed increases in functional capacity following IMT in patients with COPD, atrial fibrillation and asthma. 34 , 39 , 40 …”