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Inspiratory muscle training for asthma.
F S F Ram1, S R Wellington, N C Barnes
1National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 27, Sussex Place, Regent's Park, London, UK, NW1 4RG.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 30, 2003
Summary
Inspiratory muscle training may improve maximal inspiratory pressure in asthma patients, but current evidence is insufficient to confirm clinical benefits. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training devices for asthma management.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Asthma, particularly severe cases, may involve respiratory muscle weakness, similar to COPD.
- Steroid therapy in asthma could contribute to muscle loss.
- Respiratory muscle function is relevant in asthma and a potential target for training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training using an external resistive device in asthma patients.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) using inspiratory muscle training devices versus sham or no device.
- Searched multiple databases including Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and UK National Research Register.
- Two reviewers independently selected studies, assessed quality, and abstracted data.
Main Results:
- Five RCTs were included; four by the same research group.
- Inspiratory muscle training significantly improved maximal inspiratory pressure (PI(max)) compared to controls (WMD 23.07 cmH2O).
- Insufficient data exists to confirm if PI(max) improvements translate to clinical benefits.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence is insufficient to support clinical benefits of inspiratory muscle training for asthma.
- Further high-quality trials are needed to evaluate efficacy in diverse asthma severities.
- Future studies should focus on clinically relevant outcomes like lung function, symptoms, and exacerbations.