Inspiratory Muscle Training and the Perception of Dyspnea in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Background:Pulmonary and respiratory muscle function impairment are common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Inspiratory muscle training may improve strength, dyspnea and functional capacity in healthy subjects and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study investigated the effect of specific inspiratory muscle training (SIMT) on pulmonary functions, inspiratory muscle performance, dyspnea and quality of life, in patients with PD.Patients and Methods:Twenty patients with PD (stage II and III Hoehn and Yahr scale) were recruited for the study and were divided into two groups: a) ten patients who received SIMT and b) ten patients who received sham training, for three months. Pulmonary functions, the respiratory muscle strength and endurance, the perception of dyspnea (POD) and the quality of life were studied before and within one week after the training period. All subjects trained daily, six times a week, each session consisting of 1/2 hour, for 12 weeks.Results:Following the training period, there was a significant improvement, in the training group but not in the control group, in the following parameters: inspiratory muscle strength, (PImax, increased from 62.0±8.2 to 78.0±7.5 cm of H2O (p<0.05), inspiratory muscle endurance (increased from 20.0±2.8 to 29.0±3.0 cm of H2O (p<0.05), and the POD (decreased from 17.9±3.2 to 14.0±2.4 units (p<0.05). There was a close correlation between the increase in the inspiratory muscle performance and the decrease in the POD.Conclusions:The inspiratory muscle performance may be improved by SIMT in patients with PD. This improvement is associated with a significant decrease in their POD.

Respiratory Dysfunction in Parkinson'S Disease

“…The reduced Pod reported is not consistent with a more recent study, 23 which showed Pd patients to have a heightened Pod that decreased signifi cantly after levodopa administration, yet still remained higher than normal subjects. The patients studied may explain this increased Pod reported, as in contrast to the fi rst paper, 19 they had longstanding Pd and had abnormal pulmonary function tests.…”

Possibilities of non-drug treatment for Parkinson’s disease

“…[33]. Пациенты были распределены в группу срав-нения (ложная дыхательная гимнастика) и основную (ды-хательная гимнастика).…”

Respiratory Changes in Patients with Stroke

“…This is a valuable small effective device that can easily be used in clinics, hospitals or even at home operated by the patient. There is published evidence regarding the improvement of respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, quality of life and functional capacity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (35,36) , Parkinson's disease (37), and Myasthenia Gravis (38) after having follow a program of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with threshold load. These results suggest that IMT may be beneficial for individuals with neurological diseases.…”

“…Trata-se de um dispositivo vantajoso, pequeno, eficaz e que pode ser utilizado com facilidade em clínicas, hospitais ou até mesmo em casa pelo próprio paciente. Na literatura científica já existem evidências sobre a melhora da função respiratória, da força dos músculos respiratórios, capacidade de exercício, qualidade de vida e capacidade funcional em pacientes com Esclerose Múltipla (35,36) ; Doença de Parkinson (37) e Miastenia Gravis (38) submetidos ao um programa de treino muscular inspiratório com carga limiar. Tais resultados sugerem que esse tipo de treino pode ser benéfico em indivíduos com doenças neurológicas.…”