Improving respiratory muscle strength and health status in burn patients: a randomized controlled trial

Pulmonary complications are among the major disadvantages of burns. The present study aimed to determine the effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength and health status in burned patients.

The current randomized clinical trial was conducted on 64 burned patients in Burn Center of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. In the intervention group, a Powerbreathe device (KH1 digital model) was used twice a day for 10 days, accompanied by the routine procedures and in the control group, only chest physiotherapy and incentive spirometer were used.

Before the intervention, the mean scores of respiratory muscle strength were 38.8 ± 10.1 and 35.8 ± 9.0 in the Powerbreathe group and control group, respectively (p = .206). After the intervention, the mean score of respiratory muscle strength of Powerbreathe group was 49.2 ± 11.8 and in the control group was 39.3 ± 8.5 (p < 0.001). Moreover, the mean scores of health status before the intervention in the burned patients were 66.3 ± 14.8 and 63.0 ± 17.3 in the Powerbreathe group and control group, respectively (p = 0.550). In the post-intervention phase, the mean health status score of the burned patients in the intervention and control groups were measured at 75.9 ± 14.1 and 66.7 ± 15.9, respectively (p = 0.019).

It seems that inspiratory muscle training improves respiratory muscle strength and health status in the burned patients. Therefore, the use of Powerbreathe is recommended for the prevention and improvement of pulmonary complications in patients with chest burns.