PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Razvan Gabriel Dragoi
AU  - Claudiu Avram
AU  - Elena Amaricai
AU  - Oana Suciu
AU  - Mihai Dragoi
TI  - Rehabilitation of pulmonary dysfunction in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p3646
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3646.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3646.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Objective: The study is aiming to demonstrate the benefit of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pulmonary dysfunction in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.Methods: Twenty four patients (mean age: 45.6±5.6 years old, all males) who were previously diagnosed with AS stage III and IV were included in a eight weeks prospective study. The patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the study with respect to resting pulmonary function test (forced vital capacity - FVC, forced expiration volume in one second - FEV1) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (maximal minute ventilation - VEmax, maximal tidal volume – VTmax and maximal workload attained during the exercise test - Pmax).All patients performed IMT sessions, three times weekly for a period of eight weeks using a computer assisted TrainAir device. Each IMT session was individualized by evaluating the maximum inspiratory pressure (SMIP), the training being performed at 80% of SMIP.Results: Using paired t test to compare data at baseline and at the end of the study we noticed significant improvements of FVC (3.4%, p=0.0002); FEV1 (3.2%, p=0.0047); VEmax (5.9 L/min, p=0.0002); VTmax (0.07 L, p=0.0204); Pmax (16 Watt, p<0.0001).Conclusions: Inspiratory muscle training improves resting and effort pulmonary function of patients in advance stages of AS. This is mainly due to the influence of IMT on increasing strength and mobility of the diaphragm and accessory inspiratory muscles, together with the biofeedback provided by the interaction of: patient - TrainAir system – physical therapist. Improving ventilometric performance leads to an increased exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with AS.