Respiratory muscle training (RMT) with resistive load devices improve the ability of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to breathe more efficiently through a small orifice. This is important as COPD patients in general struggle with increasingly poor airflow and respiratory functions. These issues can lead to an increased mortality rate as well as a significant drop in the quality of life.
The study examined in this blog posts tests the hypothesis that resistive RMT actually improves respiratory muscle strength and endurance in COPD patients.
Key Findings
- This study tests the hypothesis that resistive load devices improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance in COPD patients.
- 5 weeks of high intensity resistive RMT lead to increased respiratory muscle strength, ventilatory capacity and inspiratory flow rate in COPD patients.
Patient Impact
Resistive RMT effectively improves respiratory muscle strength and endurance in COPD patients.
Study Methods
The following variables were measured throughout the duration of the study:
The above were assessed in COPD patients during and after five weeks of resistive RMT with high intensity, and the results were compared to a control group with low intensity resistive RMT.
Study Results
All of the following showed a marked improvement after the study:
All of the above significantly increased in COPD patients after high intensity resistive RMT.
This study provides proof of the concept that respiratory muscle training using resistive load devices significantly improves respiratory muscle strength and endurance in patients with COPD. The improvement in respiratory muscle strength and endurance can be assessed by measuring respiratory parameters such as MIP, PM, MSVC and inspiratory flow rate.
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