Resistive breathing training in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A pilot study.

We studied the effects of resistive breathing in 10 patients with long-standing, severe disabling COPD. Small increases in inspiratory resistive load resulted in diaphragmatic fatigue and failure in all patients. Fatigue was detected using the frequency spectrum analysis of an EMG signal obtained with surface electrodes. Failure was defined as an inward displacement of the abdomen during inspiration, i.e. incoordination of thoracoabdominal motion. The patients trained for one half hour daily for 4 weeks, breathing into a simple device, where they inspired against a resistive load that produced some incoordinated breaths. After 4 weeks this load was increased, if possible, and another 4-week training period started. All patients improved with training, i.e. higher resistances could be tolerated without signs of fatigue and failure. In addition most patients claimed that training had helped them in their daily living; they were able to do more without getting short of breath. The device helped expectoration, possibly owing to the effect of the small expiratory resistance.