[Inspiratory muscle training for bronchial asthma]

Area of Science:

• Respiratory Medicine
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Asthma patients experience increased respiratory resistance and hyperinflation, challenging respiratory muscles.
• Inspiratory muscle training is hypothesized to enhance respiratory muscle function and alleviate asthma symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a 6-month specific inspiratory muscle training program on respiratory muscle strength and endurance in adults with moderate to severe asthma.
• To assess the impact of this training on asthma symptom severity, medication requirements, and healthcare utilization.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, group-comparative trial involving 20 adult asthma patients (10 training group, 10 sham control group).
• Participants trained 3 times weekly for 1-hour sessions over 6 months.
• Measurements included inspiratory muscle strength (PImax at RV) and respiratory muscle endurance (PmPeak/PImax ratio).

Main Results:

• The training group showed significant increases in inspiratory muscle strength (72.6 to 97.0 cm H2O, p<0.001) and endurance (70.6% to 94.6%, p<0.001).
• Significant improvements were observed in night-time and daytime asthma symptoms, morning tightness, cough, B2-agonist use, hospital days, and sick leave.
• Five patients in the training group discontinued oral or inhaled corticosteroids, compared to one in the sham group.

Conclusions:

• Six months of specific inspiratory muscle training effectively enhances inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in asthma patients.
• This improvement correlates with significant reductions in asthma symptom burden, medication needs, and healthcare resource utilization.
• Inspiratory muscle training represents a viable therapeutic strategy for managing moderate to severe asthma.