Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
High-intensity inspiratory muscle training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severely
M K Covey1, J L Larson, S E Wirtz
1University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, 845 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA. mkcovey@uic.edu
Purpose:
This study examined the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with high-intensity inspiratory pressure loads on respiratory muscle performance and exertional dyspnea.
Methods:
This was a randomized single-blind clinical trial. Twenty-seven patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (18 men, 9 women) with severe to very severe airflow obstruction and severely limited functional performance were assigned randomly to an IMT group (n = 12) or an educational control group (n = 15). The IMT group trained with a threshold loaded device for 30 minutes a day for 16 weeks using interval training techniques. Training was initiated with inspiratory pressure loads equal to 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure (Plmax) and increased as tolerated to 60% of Plmax. Dependent variables were measured before and after 4 months of IMT: inspiratory muscle strength (Plmax), respiratory muscle endurance (discontinuous incremental threshold loading test [DC-ITL]), dyspnea (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire [CRQ]), and the Borg Category-Ratio Scale ratings of perceived breathing difficulty (RPBD) at equal loads during the DC-ITL.
Results:
In the IMT group, Plmax increased from 64 +/- 15 to 75 +/- 17 cm H2O (P < .05), performance on the DC-ITL test increased from a maximal load of 37 +/- 12 to 53 +/- 13 cm H2O (P < .05), RPBD decreased from 5.5 +/- 2.5 to 3.8 +/- 2.6 for equal loads on the DC-ITL (P < .05) and the CRQ Dyspnea Scale improved from 18.1 +/- 5.1 to 22.4 +/- 5.2 (P < .05).
Conclusions:
Inspiratory muscle training at high-intensity loads significantly improved inspiratory muscle strength, respiratory muscle endurance, and respiratory symptoms during daily activities and respiratory exertion.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
Chest Physiotherapy
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

