Potential Therapeutic Role of Respiratory Muscle Training in Dyspnea Management of Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review
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Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Baruch Vainshelboim1, Sagar D Sardesai1, Dharini Bhammar1
1Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43214, USA.
Abstract:
Dyspnea is a disabling symptom presented in approximately half of all cancer survivors. From a clinical perspective, despite the availability of pharmacotherapies, evidence-based effective treatments are limited for relieving dyspnea in cancer survivors. Preliminary evidence supports the potential of respiratory muscle training to reduce dyspnea in cancer survivors, although large randomized controlled studies are warranted. The aims of this article were to review the relevant scientific literature on the potential therapeutic role of respiratory muscle training in dyspnea management of cancer survivor, and to identify possible mechanisms, strengths and limitations of the evidence as well as important gaps for future research directions.
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