Effectiveness of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Individuals with Chronic Venous Disease: A Randomized Controlled Study

TL;DR

A 6-week inspiratory muscle training program improved lung function, pain, and quality of life in people with chronic venous disease compared to a control group.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that inspiratory muscle training improves pulmonary function and quality of life in individuals with chronic venous disease.

Findings

IMT significantly improved FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25–75%, and MIP compared to the control group.

Participants in the IMT group showed reduced pain and improved quality of life after six weeks.

Submaximal exercise capacity improved specifically in the IMT group.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6-week inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on pain, pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength, lower extremity functionality, exercise capacity and quality of life (QoL) in individuals with chronic venous disease (CVD). Individuals were randomly assigned to training (TG) (n = 15, 45.53 ± 8.64 years) and control (CG) (n = 15, 47 ± 9.30 years) groups. While individuals in the TG performed IMT (30 min/everyday), individuals in the CG performed thoracic expansion exercises (TEEs) (10 respiratory cycles/set, four sets/day). Pain, pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength tests, lower body strength and functional mobility, submaximal exercise capacity and QoL were assessed in all individuals. After 6 weeks, FEV1/FVC, PEF, FEF25–75% and MIP significantly increased in the TG compared to the CG (p < 0.05). Within the TG, FEV1, PEF, FEF25–75%, MIP, sit-to-stand number and 6-MWT distance significantly increased while resting pain, activity pain and QoL scores significantly decreased after 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Within the CG, FVC and sit-to-stand number significantly increased while activity pain and QoL scores decreased after 6 weeks (p < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary functions improved following IMT compared to TEE in individuals with CVD. As pulmonary functions, pain, lower extremity functionality and QoL may improve via IMT or TEE in individuals with CVD, submaximal capacity may improve following IMT.

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