Effect of respiratory muscle exercise on the improvement of respiratory function in asthmatic patients; Systematic review

Background: Comprehensive programs that combine medication-assisted asthma treatment with education, breathing techniques, and fitness training have been highlighted. Examining the effects of respiratory muscle training on asthmatic patients was our aim in this study.

Method: This systematic review complied with PRISMA recommendation. As part of an extensive literature search, we searched the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between 2000 and 2017.

Result and conclusion: Six publications were considered in this analysis; one of them were quasi-experimental studies and five was a randomized controlled trial. Exercises and inspiratory muscle training are among the interventions employed. Exercise capacity, inspiratory muscle strength, exertional dyspnea, ER visits, asthma symptoms, β2-agonist intake, IMS, and lung function were the outcome measures that were employed. An IMT program is a helpful intervention for improving IMS in people with asthma, according to this thorough evaluation. It also suggests that this intervention may have no adverse consequences and instead have a favorable effect on IMS, the requirement for rescue medication, and exertional dyspnea. Regarding how IMT affects exercise ability, hospital admissions, and health related QoL, the findings are contradicting. It had no effect on lung function or expiratory muscle strength.