The clinical respiratory journal
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Meta Analysis
Effects of inspiratory muscle training in COPD patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), quality of life and exercise capacity are altered in relationship to dyspnea. Benefits of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on quality of life, dyspnea, and exercise capacity were demonstrated, but when it is associated to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), its efficacy on dyspnea is not demonstrated. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to verify the effect of IMT using threshold devices in COPD patients on dyspnea, quality of life, exercise capacity, and inspiratory muscles strength, and the added effect on dyspnea of IMT associated with PR (vs. PR alone). ⋯ IMT using threshold devices improves inspiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and quality of life, decreases dyspnea. However, there is no added effect of IMT on dyspnea during PR (compared with PR alone).