Ann Physiother Clin | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access

Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Respiratory Muscle Strength, Functional Capacity and Health Related Quality of Life of Patients Following Lung Transplantation

Nissan Graur1,3*, Paltiel Weiner4 and Mordechai Reuven Kramer1,2

1Pulmonary Institute, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel 2 Department of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel 3 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Haifa, Israel 4Department of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

*Correspondance to: Nissan Graur 

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Abstract

Lung Transplantation (LTx), which has by now become an established treatment option for patients with a wide variety of end-stage lung diseases, is aimed at improving quality of life and survival. Prior studies illustrated respiratory muscle function impairment in patients who undergone lung transplantation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) program on respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, physical work capacity and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) of patients following lung transplantation. Four male and one female who had undergone lung transplantation, more than one year prior to the study, participated in a four months inspiratory muscle training program and were evaluated before and after intervention. All of the participants were given instructions for self-management of the power breathe inspiratory muscle trainer (POWER breathe Medic Classic: Gaiam Ltd, Southam, Warwickshire, UK), during the baseline assessment. Participants were instructed to practice IMT daily at home, six times a week (a 15-min session twice a day) at 60% of Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) value. The results obtained after the IMT program showed an increase in the six-minute walk test and in the maximal inspiratory pressure. There was also an increase in some HRQL domains as shown by the SF-36 questionnaire values. The physical work capacity measured by the peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) and pulmonary function showed no significant change. Therefore, the IMT program in these five patients improved functional capacity, respiratory muscle strength and HRQL.

Keywords:

Lung transplantation; Inspiratory muscle training; Maximal inspiratory pressure, 6-Minute walk test

Citation:

Graur N, Weiner P, Kramer MR. Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Respiratory Muscle Strength, Functional Capacity and Health Related Quality of Life of Patients Following Lung Transplantation. Ann Physiother Clin. 2020; 2(1): 1012.

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