title: Physiotherapy intervention for preventing the respiratory muscle deterioration in institutionalized older women with functional impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In elderly seniors (>80 years), respiratory function may be compromised when, in addition to the presence of comorbidity and loss of mobility, there is also reduced respiratory muscle (RM) strength. The literature has shown that RM training could be an effective method to improve RM function and prevent clinical deterioration, particularly in population with RM weakness. The main purpose of this paper was to assess the effectiveness of RM training on the respiratory muscle strength and endurance of institutionalized elderly women with functional impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four residents (mean=85 years, SD=6.7) were randomly assigned to either a control (n=27) or training (n=27) group. A supervised training program was developed with Threshold(®)IMT, five times per week for 6-weeks. The main variables of the intervention were: maximum inspiratory pressure (PI(max)), maximum expiratory pressure (PE(max)) and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), all of which were measured at weeks 0, 4, 7 and 10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in PI(max) (F(3,114)=1.04, p=0.368, R(2)=0.027), PE(max) (F(3,114)=1.86, p=0.14, R(2)=0.047) and MVV (F(3,114)=1.74, p=0.162, R(2)=0.044) between the two groups after the intervention. However, the workload significantly improved with the training sessions (F(5,100)=72.031, p<0.001, R(2)=0.791).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a 6-week interval-based training program, the threshold loading device does not significantly improve parameters related to RM strength and endurance of the study population.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España. angeles.cebria@uv.es
authors.forename: Maria Dels Àngels
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cebrià I Iranzo
authors.forename: David Alan
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Arnall
authors.forename: Celedonia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Igual Camacho
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tomás
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Meléndez
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D007326:Institutionalization; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013147:Spirometry; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014939:Work of Breathing