Inspiratory resistance training in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Twenty-eight patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undertook a training program with a simple respiratory apparatus for 15 min three times daily for 6 weeks. Fourteen patients were allocated to an inspiratory resistance training program and 14 to a control group. In all subjects the median FEV1 was 0.72 and the median FEV1/FVC was 39%. There was no difference in FEV1 or FEV1/FVC between the control and the test groups. In both groups of patients FEV1 FVC and the corresponding values during inspiration, FIV1 and FIVC, as well as MVV, were found unchanged following the training period. Inspiratory resistance tolerance increased in both groups but no significant difference in the improvement could be observed between the two groups. Both groups also showed a similar increase, 23 (76-10) %, in stair-climbing ability. There was no correlation between increases in inspiratory load tolerance and stair-climbing ability. It is suggested that both inspiratory load tolerance and work ability can be improved in COPD patients, but that inspiratory resistance training does not contribute to these improvements.