PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Noppawan Charususin
AU  - Daniel Langer
AU  - Rik Gosselink
TI  - Does additional inspiratory muscle training alter breathing pattern during whole body exercise in COPD patients?
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P3345
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3345.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3345.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Background and aim: We investigated the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) as an adjunct to a pulmonary rehabilitation program on breathing pattern during an incremental cycle exercise test. Methods: Sixteen COPD patients with reduced inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) received an additional 8-week IMT program during the rehabilitation program. A comparison group of 16 COPD patients received an identical rehabilitation program without IMT. Baseline characteristics were well matched between the two groups (p≥0.05). Results: Patients with IMT had a significantly larger increase in PImax and 6MWD when compared with the non-IMT groupView this table:The effect of IMT on inspiratory muscle function, exercise capacity and breathing pattern. They achieved a significantly higher peak ventilation and peak tidal volume during a cycle exercise test. Dyspnea score at the end of cycle test and breathing frequency at iso-ventilation were significantly more reduced in the IMT group. Conclusion: The improvement in inspiratory muscle strength might contribute to the reduction in breathing frequency and increased tidal volume. As a consequence, this probably brings about reduced symptoms of dyspnea and improvements in exercise capacity.