Asthma

The role of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in the management of asthma has been less widely studied than in COPD, but the data that exists from five randomised controlled trials are unanimously supportive.^1,2,3,4,5

Patients experience a reduction in dyspnoea after as little as 3 weeks’ POWERbreathe training, as well as improvements in quality of life. Most striking are the observations that longer-term IMT reduces absence from school/work (by ~95%), use of healthcare resources (by ~75%), and the consumption of medication (by ~79%)².

• Laboratory studies found asthma symptoms improved with IMT by up to 75% in 3 weeks¹
• Patients with asthma experienced improvement of symptoms, quality of life and a reduction in the consumption of medication of up to 79%²

Research:

Links to research papers, published in peer-reviewed, high quality scientific journals. As well as original studies, we have also included some articles that review IMT; these have been written by experts in this field of research.

Studies showing that Inspiratory Muscle Training is helpful

• Inspiratory muscle training and respiratory exercises in children with asthma.
• ¹ Inspiratory muscle training improves lung function and reduces exertional dyspnoea in mild/moderate asthmatics - McConnell, A. K., M. P. Caine, et al. (1998). Clinical Science 95(2): 4P.
• ² Inspiratory muscle training in patients with bronchial asthma.
• ³ Specific inspiratory muscle training in patients with mild asthma with high consumption of inhaled beta(2)-agonists.
• ⁴ The relationship among inspiratory muscle strength, the perception of dyspnea and inhaled beta2-agonist use in patients with asthma.
• ⁵ Influence of gender and inspiratory muscle training on the perception of dyspnea in patients with asthma.
• Acute effects of inspiratory pressure threshold loading upon airway resistance in people with asthma.