Effects of inspiratory muscle training on resting breathing pattern in patients with advanced lung disease.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of interval high intensity inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on resting breathing pattern in patients with advanced lung disease. METHODS: IMT was performed daily and training load set at 50 % of the maximal inspiratory pressure. Participants were evaluated at pre-IMT, post 8 weeks of IMT and follow-up (3 months after the end of IMT). Breathing pattern (volume and time variables as well as percentages of contribution to tidal volume) was evaluated by Optoelectronic Plethysmography at rest. Friedman test was used to verify the differences between the three time-points (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Nineteen patients (54 ± 16 years old; 5 males) were evaluated at pre-IMT and post-IMT and fourteen were assessed at follow-up. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in any comparison for all evaluated breathing pattern variables at the three time-points. CONCLUSION: Resting breathing pattern was not significantly changed after 8 weeks of IMT in patients with advanced lung disease.

Sustained maximal inspiration has similar effects compared to incentive spirometers.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of flow incentive spirometer (FIS), volume incentive spirometer (VIS), and sustained maximal inspiration exercise (SMI) on breathing pattern, chest wall motion, and thoracoabdominal asynchrony. METHODS: Sixteen healthy adults aged 27.63 ± 5.26 years were evaluated by optoelectronic plethysmography in the supine position with trunk inclination of 45° during quiet breathing and during exercise performance. RESULTS: In the comparisons among exercises, VIS promoted a significantly higher inspiratory time and lower mean inspiratory flow compared with FIS. The rating of perceived exertion according to the Borg Scale was significantly higher after the performance of FIS compared with VIS. Regarding asynchrony, none of the exercises caused changes in thoracoabdominal synchrony between the rib cage and abdomen. However, both devices significantly reduced the asynchrony between the pulmonary and abdominal rib cage compared with quiet breathing. CONCLUSION: SMI exercise was equivalent to incentive spirometers and may be an interesting alternative for clinical use in cases in which it is not possible to acquire the devices.

Breathing exercises: influence on breathing patterns and thoracoabdominal motion in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms underlying breathing exercises have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of four on breathing exercises (diaphragmatic breathing, inspiratory sighs, sustained maximal inspiration and intercostal exercise) the on breathing pattern and thoracoabdominal motion in healthy subjects. METHOD: Fifteen subjects of both sexes, aged 23 ± 1.5 years old and with normal pulmonary function tests, participated in the study. The subjects were evaluated using the optoelectronic plethysmography system in a supine position with a trunk inclination of 45° during quiet breathing and the breathing exercises. The order of the breathing exercises was randomized. Statistical analysis was performed by the Friedman test and an ANOVA for repeated measures with one factor (breathing exercises), followed by preplanned contrasts and Bonferroni correction. A p<0.005 value was considered significant. RESULTS: All breathing exercises significantly increased the tidal volume of the chest wall (V(cw)) and reduced the respiratory rate (RR) in comparison to quiet breathing. The diaphragmatic breathing exercise was responsible for the lowest V(cw), the lowest contribution of the rib cage, and the highest contribution of the abdomen. The sustained maximal inspiration exercise promoted greater reduction in RR compared to the diaphragmatic and intercostal exercises. Inspiratory sighs and intercostal exercises were responsible for the highest values of minute ventilation. Thoracoabdominal asynchrony variables increased significantly during diaphragmatic breathing. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the breathing exercises investigated in this study produced modifications in the breathing pattern (e.g., increase in tidal volume and decrease in RR) as well as in thoracoabdominal motion (e.g., increase in abdominal contribution during diaphragmatic breathing), among others.