A randomized controlled trial of inspiratory muscle training in stable chronic heart failure.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether a domiciliary programme of specific inspiratory muscle training in stable chronic heart failure results in improvements in exercise tolerance or quality of life.


RESULTS
We conducted a randomized controlled trial of 8 weeks of inspiratory muscle training in 18 patients with stable chronic heart failure, using the Threshold trainer. Patients were randomized either to a training group inspiring for 30 min daily at 30% of maximum inspiratory mouth pressure, or to a control group of 'sham' training at 15% of maximum inspiratory mouth pressure. Sixteen of the 18 patients completed the study. Maximum inspiratory mouth pressure improved significantly in the training group compared with controls, by a mean (SD) of 25.4 (11.2) cmH2O (P=0.04). There were, however, no significant improvements in treadmill exercise time, corridor walk test time or quality of life scores in the trained group compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite achieving a significant increase in inspiratory muscle strength, this trial of simple domiciliary inspiratory muscle training using threshold loading at 30% of maximum inspiratory mouth pressure did not result in significant improvements in exercise tolerance or quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure.
Johnson
P H
PH
Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Cowley
A J
AJ
Kinnear
W J
WJ
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012132:Respiratory Muscles; D012138:Respiratory Therapy