Inspiratory muscle training combined with general exercise reconditioning in patients with COPD.

We compared, in a controlled clinical trial, the effect of specific inspiratory muscle training combined with general exercise reconditioning, for six months, with that of general exercise reconditioning alone on inspiratory muscle strength, endurance, and exercise performance in patients with COPD. Thirty-six patients were recruited into three groups; 12 patients received specific inspiratory muscle training combined with general exercise reconditioning, 12 patients underwent general exercise reconditioning alone, and the remaining 12 patients received no training. Specific inspiratory muscle training, for six months, improved the inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in patients with COPD. This training combined with general exercise reconditioning also provided improvement in exercise tolerance, and this improvement was significantly greater than that of general exercise reconditioning alone.