Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 105, Issue 11, November 2011, Pages 1671-1681
Respiratory Medicine

Effects of inspiratory muscle training in patients with heart failure

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2011.05.001Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Summary

Aim

To investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on functional capacity and balance, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function, dyspnea, fatigue, depression, and quality of life in heart failure patients.

Methods

A prospective, randomized controlled, double-blinded study. Thirty patients with heart failure (NYHA II-III, LVEF<40%) were included. Sixteen patients received IMT at 40% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and 14 patients received sham therapy (15% of MIP) for 6 weeks. Functional capacity and balance, respiratory muscle strength, quadriceps femoris muscle strength, pulmonary function, dyspnea, fatigue, quality of life, and depression were evaluated.

Results

Functional capacity and balance, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, depression were significantly improved in the treatment group compared with controls; quality of life and fatigue were similarly improved within groups (p < 0.05). Functional capacity (418.59 ± 123.32 to 478.56 ± 131.58 m, p < 0.001), respiratory (MIP = 62.00 ± 33.57 to 97.13 ± 32.63 cmH2O, p < 0.001) and quadriceps femoris muscle strength (240.91 ± 106.08 to 301.82 ± 111.86 N, p < 0.001), FEV1%, FVC% and PEF%, functional balance (52.73 ± 3.15 to 54.25 ± 2.34, p < 0.001), functional dyspnea (2.27 ± 0.88 to 1.07 ± 0.79, p < 0.001), depression (11.47 ± 7.50 to 3.20 ± 4.09, p < 0.001), quality of life, fatigue (42.73 ± 11.75 to 29.07 ± 13.96, p < 0.001) were significantly improved in the treatment group. Respiratory muscle strength (MIP = 78.64 ± 35.95 to 90.86 ± 30.23 cmH2O, p = 0.001), FVC%, depression (14.36 ± 9.04 to 9.50 ± 10.42, p = 0.011), quality of life and fatigue (42.86 ± 12.67 to 32.93 ± 15.87, p = 0.008) were significantly improved in the control group.

Conclusion

The IMT improves functional capacity and balance, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength; decreases depression and dyspnea perception in patients with heart failure. IMT should be included effectively in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

Keywords

Dyspnea
Functional capacity
Heart failure
Inspiratory muscle training
Muscle strength
Quality of life

Cited by (0)

Institution at which the work was performed: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey.