title: Inspiratory muscle training in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on functional capacity, respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, quality of life, and fatigue and dyspnea perception in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine clinically stable PAH patients were included in this study. These patients were randomly assigned to a 6-week IMT program (14 patients) or to a sham IMT protocol (15 patients). Before and after the treatment, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, dyspnea and fatigue perception, and quality of life were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant increases in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (% predicted) and 6-minute walk distance in the IMT group compared with the control group (P < .05). There were significant decreases in the Fatigue Severity Scale score, Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scores, and Nottingham Health Profile emotional reactions subscale in the IMT group compared with the control group (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inspiratory muscle training promotes significant improvements in respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity, thus resulting in a reduction of dyspnea during activities of daily living and less fatigue in PAH patients. Inspiratory muscle training is a clinically practical treatment for PAH without any complications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (Drs Saglam, Arikan, Vardar-Yagli, and Inal-Ince, Ms Calik-Kutukcu), Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Unit of Rheumatology (Dr Akdogan), and Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology (Drs Kaya and Tokgozoglu), Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey; School of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey (Dr Savci); Department of Cardiology, Gülhane Military Medicine Academy, Ankara, Turkey (former) (Dr Yokusoglu).
authors.forename: Melda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Naciye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vardar-Yagli
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calik-Kutukcu
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inal-Ince
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savci
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akdogan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokusoglu
authors.forename: Ergun Baris
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tokgozoglu
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001945:Breathing Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000379:methods*