Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Acquisition and Semi-Automated Analysis of Respiratory Muscle Surface Electromyography
Published on: January 24, 2025
Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of Randomized
Linqi Fang1, Anqi Cheng, Zhaohua Zhu
1Author Affiliations: Cardiorpulmonary Rehabilitation Ward, Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center (The Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University), Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; and Rehabilitation Medicine Department 2, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Purpose:
Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has emerged as a potential intervention to improve respiratory outcomes for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. However, the extent of the IMT effects on preoperative and postoperative respiratory metrics remains uncertain. Hence, we designed this study to determine the effects of IMT on various outcomes of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of studies evaluating the impact of preoperative and postoperative IMT on various respiratory variables and postsurgical outcomes. We synthesized data from multiple studies, encompassing diverse patient populations and IMT protocols. The key outcomes included the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and others.
Results:
Our meta-analysis results showed that preoperative IMT significantly improved the MIP values with a pooled standard mean difference (SMD) of 0.62. The hospital stay length was also reduced with a SMD of - 0.4. Other variables such as FEV1 and FVC also improved significantly. Postoperative IMT improved the MIP and peak flow rate values, but the evidence was less robust than with preoperative interventions. We observed high heterogeneity across studies for several outcomes and found evidence of publication bias for some postoperative measures.
Conclusion:
Both preoperative and postoperative IMT offer benefits for patients undergoing operations, especially by enhancing respiratory muscle strength and potentially reducing hospital stays. However, the presence of heterogeneity and publication bias underscores the need for further standardized research to consolidate these findings and standardize IMT protocols for optimal patient outcomes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Breathing III: The Accessory Muscles
The respiratory system is a complex network that relies on primary respiratory muscles like the diaphragm, but also involves accessory muscles to enhance lung expansion and airflow during both inhalation and exhalation.
Enhancing Inhalation with Accessory Muscles:
Accessory muscles such as the sternocleidomastoid, scalene, intercostal, and abdominal muscles are crucial when additional respiratory effort is required, such as during deep...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses
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...

