Back ground: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a
leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is the main cause of persistent
obstruction of the airway leading to respiratory muscle weakness.
Aim of this study: comparing the response of pulmonary functions to resisted
inspiratory muscles training versus pneumatic compression in COPD patients.
Patients and Methods: randomized prospective clinical study included 40
patients with moderate and sever COPD. They were recruited from outpatient clinic
of chest disease, Benha University Hospital; patients were randomly assigned into
two equal groups, group A received Inspiratory Muscle Training (30%of maximum
inspiratory pressure) and group B received Pneumatic Compression with abdominal
sleeve (30% of one- repetition maximum). All patients trained 3 times per week for
12 weeks. Respiratory function tests were compared before interventions and post
12 weeks.
Results: comparison between groups post treatment revealed a significant
increase in FEV1, FVC, PEFR, FEF25-75% and 6 MWT of group A compared with
that of group B (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: inspiratory muscle training and pneumatic compression improve
pulmonary functions and pneumatic compression can be considered as an effective
component for pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients