Inspiratory Muscle Training in Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease

Inspiratory Muscle Training has been described as an effective intervention and contribute to the improvement of inspiratory muscle function and breathlessness in patients with chronic lung disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate, the effects of inspiratory muscle endurance, breathlessness, inspiratory muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with interstitial lung disease. It is a quasi-experimental study. Patients with interstitial lung disease are recruited from interstitial disease ambulatory. In each session patients performs two times 30 breaths with a minute rest between them. The load is set according with 50% of actual PImax, the Borg score should be between 4 and 6, otherwise the load will decrease (if Borg more than 6) or increase (if Borg less than 4). New PImax is measured weekly and the new load is defined following the same protocol for 8 weeks. Patients are evaluated before the inspiratory muscle training and after 8 weeks of training.

Inclusion criteria

• Clinical and radiological diagnosis of interstitial lung disease established by a pulmonologist;
• Absence of clinical exacerbations of the disease in the four weeks prior to the initial data collection;
• Present medical research council scale more than 2;
• Absence of a associated or self reported cardiac, orthopedic and psychiatric diseases,
• Not participating in pulmonary rehabilitation programs;
• Do not use supplemental oxygen therapy while resting.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability of the participant to understand or perform the procedures proposed during the evaluations and training program.