Inspiratory muscle training in neuromuscular patients: Assessing the benefits of a novel protocol

Author(s):  
Bruno Cabrita ◽  
Sara Dias ◽  
Ana Luísa Fernandes ◽  
Sílvia Correia ◽  
Jorge Ferreira ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular diseases are characterized by the compromise of respiratory muscles, thoracic ventilation, muscle strength and coughing capacity. Patients have low quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality mostly due to respiratory impairment. OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits of adding inspiratory muscle training to neuromuscular patients’ treatment and their compliance to the approach. METHODS: We conducted a single-center prospective study with neuromuscular patients with decreased maximal inspiratory pressure. We developed an inspiratory muscle training protocol with three-month duration and once-daily training. The protocol had a progressive intensity that was individually tailored based on patients’ baseline characteristics and tolerance. We used Powerbreathe Medic Classic devices to perform the training. RESULTS: There were 21 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Muscular dystrophy (n= 12, 57.3%) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n= 4, 19%) were the most common diseases. After three months of training, patients increased their maximal inspiratory muscle pressure (p= 0.002) and peak cough flow (p= 0.011). Compliance to the protocol was 99 ± 5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol showed significant improvements on pulmonary muscles function and might be considered as an adjunct treatment to neuromuscular treatment. However, these positive results require larger further studies to validate the clinical benefits long-term.

Author(s):  
Juan Lorca-Santiago ◽  
Sergio L. Jiménez ◽  
Helios Pareja-Galeano ◽  
Alberto Lorenzo

The fatigue of the respiratory muscles causes the so-called metabolic reflex or metaboreflex, resulting in vasoconstriction of the blood vessels in the peripheral muscles, which leads to a decrease in respiratory performance. Training the respiratory muscles is a possible solution to avoid this type of impairment in intermittent sports. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the results obtained with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in intermittent sports modalities, intending to determine whether its implementation would be adequate and useful in intermittent sports. A search in the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases was conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Elements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale. In conclusion, the introduction of specific devices of IMT seems to be a suitable method to improve performance in intermittent sports, mainly due to a reduction of the metaboreflex, fatigue sensation, and dyspnea. The ideal protocol would consist of a combination of acute and chronic treatment, and, even if IMT is done daily, the duration will not exceed one hour per week.


2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anri Human ◽  
Brenda M. Morrow

Background: Children with neuromuscular diseases (NMD) are at risk of morbidity and mortality because of progressive respiratory muscle weakness and ineffective cough. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) aims to preserve or improve respiratory muscle strength, thereby reducing morbidity and improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Objectives: To describe the safety and feasibility of a 6-week IMT programme using an electronic threshold device (Powerbreathe®). Any adverse events and changes in functional ability, spirometry, peak expiratory cough flow (PECF), inspiratory muscle strength and HRQoL (Pediatric Quality of Life [PedsQL]) were recorded.Methods: A convenience sample of eight participants (n = 4 boys; median [interquartile range {IQR}] age: 12.21 [9.63–16.05] years) with various NMD were included in a pre-experimental, observational pre-test post-test feasibility study. Training consisted of 30 breaths, twice daily, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks.Results: There were significant pre- to post-intervention improvements in upper limb function and coordination (p = 0.03) and inspiratory muscle strength: maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (Pimax) (p = 0.01); strength-index (p = 0.02); peak inspiratory flow (PIF) (p = 0.02), with no evidence of change in spirometry, PECF or HRQoL. No adverse events occurred and participant satisfaction and adherence levels were high.Conclusion: Inspiratory muscle training (at an intensity of 30% Pimax) appears safe, feasible and acceptable, in a small sample of children and adolescents with NMD and was associated with improved inspiratory muscle strength, PIF and upper limb function and coordination.Clinical implications: Larger, longer-term randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm the safety and efficacy of IMT as an adjunct respiratory management strategy in children with NMD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia A. Padula ◽  
Evelyn Yeaw

Inspiratory muscle training (IM training) is a technique that is designed to improve the performance of the respiratory muscles (RMs) that may be impaired in a variety of conditions. Interest in IM training has expanded over the past two decades, and IM training has been used in an increasingly wide range of clinical conditions. However, the benefits of IM training continue to be debated, primarily because of methodological limitations of studies conducted to date. The focus of this article is to provide a critical review of IM training research in conditions other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for which it has been used, including asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, pre- and postsurgery, ventilator weaning, neuromuscular diseases, and chronic heart failure. Emphasis is placed on what has been learned, remaining questions, future applications, and significance to practice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrix Krause-Sorio ◽  
Eunjoo An ◽  
Andrea P. Aguila ◽  
Fernando Martinez ◽  
Ravi S. Aysola ◽  
...  

Background: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) may improve respiratory and cardiovascular functions in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and is a potential alternative or adjunct treatment to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). IMT protocols were originally designed for athletes, however, we found some OSA patients could not perform the exercise, so we aimed for a more OSA-friendly protocol. Our feasibility criteria included (1) participants successfully managing the technique at home; (2) participants completing daily practice sessions and recording data logs; and (3) capturing performance plateaus to determine an optimal length of the intervention.Methods: Five sedentary OSA patients participated in this feasibility study (three men, mean age = 61.6 years, SD = 10.2). Using a digital POWERbreathe K4 or K5 device, participants performed 30 daily inhalations against a resistance set at a percentage of maximum, recalculated weekly. Participants were willing to perform one but not two daily practice sessions. Intervention parameters from common IMT protocols were adapted according to ability and subjective feedback. Some were unable to perform the typically used 75% of maximum inspiratory resistance so we lowered the target to 65%. The technique required some practice; therefore, we introduced a practice week with a 50% target. After an initial 8 weeks, the intervention was open-ended and training continued until all participants demonstrated at least one plateau of inspiratory strength (2 weeks without strength gain). Weekly email and phone reminders ensured that participants completed all daily sessions and logged data in their online surveys. Weekly measures of inspiratory resistance, strength, volume, and flow were recorded.Results: Participants successfully completed the practice and subsequent 65% IMT resistance targets daily for 13 weeks. Inspiratory strength gains showed plateaus in all subjects by the end of 10 weeks of training, suggesting 12 weeks plus practice would be sufficient to achieve and capture maximum gains. Participants reported no adverse effects.Conclusion: We developed and tested a 13-week IMT protocol in a small group of sedentary, untreated OSA patients. Relative to other IMT protocols, we successfully implemented reduced performance requirements, a practice week, and an extended timeframe. This feasibility study provides the basis for a protocol for clinical trials on IMT in OSA.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernie Bissett ◽  
I Anne Leditschke ◽  
Teresa Neeman ◽  
Margot Green ◽  
Vince Marzano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In ventilator-dependent ICU patients, inspiratory muscle training may improve inspiratory muscle strength and accelerate liberation from the ventilator, but optimal training parameters are yet to be established and little is known about the impact of inspiratory muscle training on quality of life or dyspnea. Thus we sough to ascertain whether inspiratory muscle training, commenced while ventilator-dependent, would improve outcomes for ICU patients invasively ventilated for 7 days or longer.Methods: In this randomized trial with assessor-blinding and intention-to-treat analysis, 70 participants (mechanically ventilated ≥7 days) were randomized to receive once- daily supervised high-intensity inspiratory muscle training with a mechanical threshold device in addition to usual care, or usual care (control). Primary outcomes were inspiratory muscle strength (maximum inspiratory pressure % predicted) and endurance (fatigue resistance index) at ventilator-liberation and 1 week later, and quality of life (SF-36v2, EQ-5D). Secondary outcomes included dyspnea, physical function, duration of ventilation and in-hospital mortality.Results: 33 participants were randomly allocated to the training group and 37 to control. There were no statistically significant differences in strength (maximum inspiratory pressure) (95% CI -7.4 to 14.0) or endurance (fatigue resistance index) (95% CI -0.003 to 0.436). Quality of life improved significantly more in the training group than control (EQ5D 17.2; 95% CI 1.3-33.0) (SF36-PCS 6.97; 96%CI 1.96-12.00). Only the training group demonstrated significant reductions in dyspnea (-1.5 at rest, -1.9 during exercise). There were no between-group differences in duration of ventilation or other measures. In-hospital mortality was higher in the control group than the training group (9 vs 4, 24% vs 12%, p=0.23).Conclusions: In ventilator-dependent patients, mechanical threshold loading inspiratory muscle training improves quality of life and dyspnea, even in the absence of strength improvements or acceleration of ventilator liberation. Trial registration: ACTRN12610001089022 https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12610001089022Trial protocol: http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/2/2/e000813.full


2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 1702000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konrad Schultz ◽  
Danijel Jelusic ◽  
Michael Wittmann ◽  
Benjamin Krämer ◽  
Veronika Huber ◽  
...  

The value of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unclear. The RIMTCORE (Routine Inspiratory Muscle Training within COPD Rehabilitation) randomised controlled trial examined the effectiveness of IMT added to pulmonary rehabilitation.In total, 611 COPD patients (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage II–IV) received a 3-week inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation, of which 602 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. The intervention group (n=300) received highly intensive IMT and the control group (n=302) received sham IMT. The primary outcome was maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax). The secondary outcomes were 6-min walk distance, dyspnoea, quality of life and lung function. Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-pulmonary rehabilitation. ANCOVA was used.The intervention group showed higher effects in PImax (p<0.001) and forced inspiratory volume in 1 s (p=0.013). All other outcomes in both study groups improved significantly, but without further between-group differences. Sex and pulmonary rehabilitation admission shortly after hospitalisation modified quality of life effects.IMT as an add-on to a 3-week pulmonary rehabilitation improves inspiratory muscle strength, but does not provide additional benefits in terms of exercise capacity, quality of life or dyspnoea. A general recommendation for COPD patients to add IMT to a 3-week pulmonary rehabilitation cannot be made.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e049545
Author(s):  
Vinicius Maldaner ◽  
Jean Coutinho ◽  
Alfredo Nicodemos da Cruz Santana ◽  
Graziella F B Cipriano ◽  
Miriã Cândida Oliveira ◽  
...  

IntroductionA significant number of patients with COVID-19 may experience dyspnoea, anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue and physical impairment symptoms, raising the need for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach, especially for those with advanced age, obesity, comorbidities and organ failure. Traditional pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), including exercise training, psychosocial counselling and education, has been employed to improve pulmonary function, exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COVID-19. However, the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in PR programmes remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of a supervised IMT in a PR is more effective than PR itself in improving dyspnoea, health-related quality of life and exercise capacity in symptomatic patients with post-COVID-19.Methods and analysisThis parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial, powered for superiority, aimed to assess exercise capacity as the primary outcome. A total of 138 are being recruited at two PR centres in Brazil. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomised using concealed allocation, to receive either (1) standard PR with sham IMT or (2) standard PR added to IMT. Treatment effects or differences between the outcomes (at baseline, after 8 and 16 weeks, and after 6 months) of the study groups will be analysed using an ordinary two-way analysis of variance.Ethics and disseminationThis trial was approved by the Brazilian National Ethics Committee and obtained approval on 7 October 2020 (document number 4324069). The findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations.Trial registration numberNCT04595097.


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