Brief Summary: Scoliosis is the abnormality of the spine with direct effects on the shape and mechanics of the thoracic cage. Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) is the most common 3-dimensional deformity of the spine which can potentially affect respiratory function, exercise capacity as well as the performance of inspiratory and expiratory muscles. During growth morphological changes of thoracic cage affects the pulmonary tissues and functions. Respiratory functions shows negative changes due to Cobb angle, curve localization, number of vertebra and onset age in patient with scoliosis.
Exercise approaches include respiratory training program and aim to improve respiratory functions.It is reported that respiratory muscle weakness is a potent contributor to pulmonary impairment in mild, moderate, and severe forms of scoliosis. Studies showed that exercise training and respiratory exercises may improve respiratory function and exercise capacity in patients with AIS. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inspiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength, respiratory function and functional capacity in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

The hospitalization for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) impairs the physical functioning and functional capacity, but aerobic physical training and, more recently, inspiratory muscle training, have shown benefits to patients' health submitted to this intervention. However, is not known the effect of aerobic physical training combined with inspiratory muscle training in hospitalized patients for HSCT. The purpose of the study will be verify the safety, feasibility and effects of the training association.

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to review studies investigating the efficacy of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and to find out whether patient characteristics influence the efficacy of IMT. A systematic literature search was performed using the Medline and Embase databases. On the basis of a methodological framework, a critical review was performed and summary effect-sizes were calculated by applying fixed and random effects models. Both IMT alone and IMT as adjunct to general exercise reconditioning significantly increased inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. A significant effect was found for dyspnoea at rest and during exercise. Improved functional exercise capacity tended to be an additional effect of IMT alone and as an adjunct to general exercise reconditioning, but this trend did not reach statistical significance. No significant correlations were found for training effects with patient characteristics. However, subgroup analysis in IMT plus exercise training revealed that patients with inspiratory muscle weakness improved significantly more compared to patients without inspiratory muscle weakness. From this review it is concluded that inspiratory muscle training is an important addition to a pulmonary rehabilitation programme directed at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with inspiratory muscle weakness. The effect on exercise performance is still to be determined.
PMID: 12358330 DOI: 10.1183/09031936.02.00237402

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present review was to assess the quality of evidence in the literature regarding the specific benefits of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with an emphasis on training intensity and the relationships between changes in inspiratory muscle function and other clinical outcome measures.
METHODS: Articles were found by searching CINAHL, PubMed, Medline via First Search, and ProQuest databases. Articles used in the review were randomized trials of IMT vs. sham IMT or no intervention, published in English in a peer-reviewed journal, included patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and specified the intensity of training. The quality of the studies was evaluated by 2 independent reviewers using the methodological rigor scale described by Medlicott and Harris as well as Sackett's levels of evidence. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in this review.
RESULTS: Consistent improvements in maximal inspiratory pressures (ranging from -11 to -30 cm H(2)O) and inspiratory muscle endurance were found. Improvements in dyspnea and health-related quality of life were also observed. Inspiratory muscle training may result in improved exercise tolerance as measured using walking tests. High-intensity IMT resulted in improved training efficiency with respect to inspiratory muscle strength, but evidence of the effect of high-intensity IMT on other clinical outcomes is lacking.
CONCLUSION: Despite research spanning decades, there are numerous limitations in the literature regarding IMT. IMT appears to improve dyspnea, waking test distance, and health-related quality of life in individuals with COPD, but it is not clear whether this improvement is mediated through improved inspiratory muscle strength and endurance. This review discussed several considerations critical to the design of future trials.
KEYWORDS: COPD; inspiratory muscle training
PMID: 20467518 PMCID: PMC2845249

Inspiratory muscle training (IM training) is a technique that is designed to improve the performance of the respiratory muscles (RMs) that may be impaired in a variety of conditions. Interest in IM training has expanded over the past two decades, and IM training has been used in an increasingly wide range of clinical conditions. However, the benefits of IM training continue to be debated, primarily because of methodological limitations of studies conducted to date. The focus of this article is to provide a critical review of IM training research in conditions other than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for which it has been used, including asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, pre- and postsurgery, ventilator weaning, neuromuscular diseases, and chronic heart failure. Emphasis is placed on what has been learned, remaining questions, future applications, and significance to practice.
PMID: 17564298 DOI: 10.1891/088971807780852039