The purpose was to update an original systematic review to determine the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on inspiratory muscle strength and endurance, exercise capacity, dyspnea and quality of life for adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The original MEDLINE and CINAHL search to August 2003 was updated to January 2007 and EMBASE was searched from inception to J...

BACKGROUND Upper airway (UA) patency during inspiration is determined by the balance between dilating forces generated by UA dilator muscle activity and collapsing forces related to the decreased intraluminal pressure that accompanies flow generated by inspiratory muscle activity. It is possible that the relative strengths of UA dilator and inspiratory pump muscles could be an important determi...

[Purpose] This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT) on respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen sedentary unemployed patients were recruited from both genders who received regular hemodialysis sessions from at least three months. Those patients received Threshold IMT program for 12 weeks. Pulmonary functions an...

BACKGROUND In patients who have been mechanically ventilated, inspiratory muscles remain weak and fatigable following ventilatory weaning, which may contribute to dyspnoea and limited functional recovery. Inspiratory muscle training may improve inspiratory muscle strength and endurance following weaning, potentially improving dyspnoea and quality of life in this patient group. METHODS We cond...

BACKGROUND Respiratory muscle weakness is an important clinical problem. Tests of varying complexity and invasiveness are available to assess respiratory muscle strength. The relative precision of different tests in the detection of weakness is less clear, as is the value of multiple tests. METHODS The respiratory muscle function tests of clinical referrals who had multiple tests assessed in ...

Background: Respiratory muscle weakness is an important clinical problem. Tests of varying complexity and invasiveness are available to assess respiratory muscle strength. The relative precision of different tests in the detection of weakness is less clear, as is the value of multiple tests. Methods: The respiratory muscle function tests of clinical referrals who had multiple tests assessed in ...

Weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation is a complex, time-consuming process that involves the loss of force/generating capacity of the inspiratory muscle. In their study 'Inspiratory muscle strength training improves the outcome in failure to wean patients: a randomized trial', Martin and colleagues showed that the use of an inspiratory muscle strength program increased the maximal inspi...

R espiratory muscle weakness, be it of acute or chronic onset, is a potentially threatening condition. Weakness of inspiratory muscles generates an imbalance between muscle load and capacity that, when severe enough, leads to hypercapnic respiratory failure. Conversely, weakness of expiratory muscles impairs cough and airway clearance and favours lung atelectasis and infection. Dysfunction of b...

BACKGROUND Patients with a Fontan circulation have reduced exercise capacity and respiratory muscle strength. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves exercise capacity and quality of life in adults with heart failure. We assessed whether 6 weeks of a home-based program of IMT improves inspiratory muscle strength and the ventilatory efficiency of exercise in adolescent patients with a Fontan ...

RATIONALE Diaphragm thickness is increased in cystic fibrosis (CF), but it shows a marked variability between patients. The variable response of the diaphragm to loading may reflect the combined and opposite effects of training by the respiratory disease and systemic inflammation. OBJECTIVES To assess the impact of systemic inflammation on diaphragm and limb muscle strength and bulk in adult ...