Comparing Inspiratory Resistive Muscle Training with Incentive Spirometry on Rehabilitation of COPD Patients

PurposeTo examine the effect of incentive spirometry in pulmonary rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and compare its efficacy with inspiratory resistive muscle training (IMT) technique. DesignRandomized controlled trial. MethodsThirty patients with COPD, from a general hospital in Mashhad, Iran, were randomly assigned to two study groups. All subjects trained daily in two 15-minute sessions, 4days a week, for 4weeks. Respiratory function tests were compared before interventions and at the end of weeks 2 and 4. FindingsBoth techniques improved the mean values of all respiratory function tests (p.01). The IMT technique was more effective to improve MVV and PImax (p.05). PEFR was better improved in the incentive spirometry group (p.05). There was no significant difference for other spirometric parameters between two groups. ConclusionsIncentive spirometry can be considered as an effective component for pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients.