Comparison study of chest physiotherapy home training programmes on respiratory functions in patients with muscular dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of home training programmes, threshold inspiratory muscle training and breathing exercise on spirometry and maximal pressures in patients with muscular dystrophy.


METHODS
Prospective blinded 12-week study.


METHODS
Cardiopulmonary department of university hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with muscular dystrophy (17 patients with limb girdle muscular dystrophy and 6 patients with Becker muscular dystrophy) assigned to the threshold inspiratory muscle training and breathing exercise groups with alternate allocation.


METHODS
Spirometry, maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) were measured before and after training. In the threshold inspiratory muscle training group threshold pressure load was determined as equal to 30% of weekly PImax measurement. In the breathing exercise group, patients performed deep and forceful diaphragmatic and segmental exercises. All patients performed exercises at home and once a week at hospital under supervision.


RESULTS
The improvement of PImax in the threshold inspiratory muscle training group was more significant than the improvement observed in the breathing exercise group (P=0.05). PEmax increased significantly only in the breathing exercise group (P=0.01). Spirometry results did not change significantly in both groups after the training.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that respiratory muscle strength is enhanced by training in the patients with muscular dystrophy who are ambulatory, but inspiratory and/or expiratory training effect is specific to the trained muscles. The techniques that improve the strength of respiratory muscles should be included in the physiotherapy management of patients with muscular dystrophy.
Yeldan
Ipek
I
School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Cardiology Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey. ipekyeldan@gmail.com
Gurses
H Nilgun
HN
Yuksel
Husniye
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D008297:Male; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013147:Spirometry; D055815:Young Adult