Improved pulmonary function and exercise tolerance with inspiratory muscle conditioning in children with cystic fibrosis.

This study documented the effect of inspiratory muscle conditioning in children with cystic fibrosis. Subjects, ages 7 to 14 years, were divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 10) trained at a high pressure load (> or = 29 cm H2O) and the control group (n = 10) trained at a minimal pressure load (< or = 15 cm H2O), using a threshold loading device. Subjects trained 30 min a day for 10 weeks. Pulmonary function, inspiratory muscle strength, and exercise tolerance were measured at the beginning and end of the training period. Pulmonary function was measured by body plethysmography. Inspiratory muscle strength was determined by standard measures of maximal inspiratory pressure against an occluded airway. Exercise tolerance was measured by the length of time subjects could walk on a treadmill. Findings indicated that the experimental group showed significant increases in inspiratory muscle strength, vital capacity, total lung capacity, and exercise tolerance in comparison to the control group.