Effect of inspiratory muscle training on dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of inspiratory muscle training among COPD patients on the inspiratory muscle strength and severity of dyspnea. Twenty COPD patients were included in this study. They were subjected to thorough clinical examination, Radiological chest assessment, FEV [1]/FVC%, FEV [I] of predicted measurement, maximal inspiratory muscle strength [PI [max]] and dyspnea evaluation, before and after inspiratory muscle training protocol [IMT] for 6 weeks. Dyspnea was evaluated by Mahler's base linedyspnea index [BDI] before IMT and by Mahler's transitional dyspnea index [TDI] after 6 weeks of IMT.All subjects tolerated the training load with a high significant important of FEV[1] /FVC%, FEV[1]% of predicted and PI max which reflects an important of inspiratory muscle strength. There were an improvement in TDI categories when compared to the initial one in BDI as the effort needed to produce certain task was decreased after IMT with a total perception of reduced dyspnea. IMT is of beneficial effects for improving inspiratory muscle strength and reduce dyspnea in COPD. Application of home training programme is recommended for COPD patients