Clinical cardiology
-
Clinical cardiology · Nov 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of specific inspiratory muscle training on the sensation of dyspnea and exercise tolerance in patients with congestive heart failure.
It has been previously shown that the inspiratory muscles of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are weaker than those of normal persons. This weakness may contribute to the dyspnea and limit exercise capacity in these patients. The respiratory muscles can be trained for both strength and endurance. ⋯ Specific inspiratory muscle training resulted in increased inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. This increase was associated with decreased dyspnea, increase in submaximal exercise capacity, and no change in maximal exercise capacity. This training may probe to be a complementary therapy in patients with congestive heart failure.