Background: 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 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 FEV 1, FVC, PEFR, FEF25-
75% and 6MWT of group A compared with that of group B
(p