Inspiratory Muscle Training - Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Respiratory Health

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Inspiratory muscle training

Damaged airways and lung tissue aren't the only causes of difficult breathing for patients with emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Another contributing factor is fatigued respiratory muscles. The respiratory muscles become fatigued because they have to work harder when you breathe. In addition, the diaphragm, the main muscle involved in inhaling, is less effective when its position is altered — a common condition for people with COPD. Inspiratory muscle training aims to strengthen these muscles so you can pump more air in and out of your chest. It's like weight lifting for your breathing muscles.

To do inspiratory muscle training, you will use a mouthpiece and a device that provides resistance to your breathing efforts. The device forces you to work your respiratory muscles harder while breathing, which helps strengthen those muscles. There is some evidence that for people with weak respiratory muscles, adding inspiratory muscle training to a regimen improves strength and endurance more than exercise training alone.

Last updated:	May 23, 2007