One of the issues people with chronic heart failure (CHF) face is that of low respiratory muscle strength. This reduced strength can lead to experienced dyspnea. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is one potential method to help improve strength and fight experienced dyspnea. Accordingly, IMT has been tested for improving respiratory muscle strength in patients with CHF. Let’s look at the study in more detail below.

Key Findings

• Respiratory muscle weakness in patients with heart failure leads to dyspnea.
• 8 weeks of RMT improved respiratory muscle strength and dyspnea.
• The effects of RMT were significant after 2 weeks of RMT and were maintained throughout the study period.

Patient Impact

RMT effectively improves respiratory muscle strength and dyspnea in patients with heart failure within 2 weeks.

Study Methods

Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and dyspnea were assessed before, during and after 8 weeks of IMT in patients with CHF.

Study Results

MIP, MEP and dyspnea were significantly improved after 2 weeks of IMT in patients with CHF, and this effect was maintained throughout the training period.

In conclusion, this study provides proof that increased inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength due to IMT leads to reduced dyspnea in patients with CHF. IMT is therefore considered an effective method to reduce dyspnea and associated necessary medication and healthcare consultations in patients with CHF.

References

Cahalin LP, et al. Inspiratory muscle training in patients with chronic heart failure awaiting cardiac transplantation: results of a pilot clinical trial. Phys. Ther. 77(8), 830–838 (1997).