Impact of a simple Prototype Respiratory muscle trainer on Pulmonary function test and Dyspnea in patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis, An Experimental study

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a prevalent and severe form of interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by progressive lung scarring and impaired gas exchange.

Methods: This pre and post experimental study was conducted in Santosh Hospital ICU, Ghaziabad, including 40 subjects with pulmonary fibrosis. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group, receiving training with a handmade respiratory muscle trainer, or a control group, receiving inspiratory muscle threshold training.

Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in pulmonary function parameters and dyspnea scores compared to the control group. The mean difference in FVC% and FEV1% was notably greater in the intervention group, indicating enhanced lung function. Dyspnea scores decreased significantly in both groups, with the intervention group exhibiting a more substantial reduction, suggesting the effectiveness of the respiratory muscle trainer in alleviating breathlessness.

Conclusion: The simple prototype respiratory muscle trainer significantly improved pulmonary function and reduced dyspnea in patients with pulmonary fibrosis