Home-based respiratory muscle training on quality of life and exercise tolerance in long-term post-COVID-19: Randomized controlled trial - 22/02/23
Highlights |
• | Respiratory muscle training increased quality of life in long-term COVID. |
• | Respiratory muscle training had no impact on exercise tolerance. |
• | Respiratory muscle training increased expiratory muscle function. |
• | Inspiratory and respiratory muscle training improved inspiratory muscle function. |
• | Inspiratory and respiratory muscle training improved lower limb muscle strength. |
Abstract |
Objective |
To evaluate the effects of a home-based respiratory muscle training programme (inspiratory [IMT] or inspiratory/expiratory muscles [RMT]) supervised by telerehabilitation on quality of life and exercise tolerance in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms. The secondary objective was to evaluate the effects of these programmes on respiratory muscle function, physical and lung function, and psychological state.
Methods |
88 individuals with long-term symptoms of fatigue and dyspnoea after COVID-19 diagnosis were randomly (1:1 ratio) assigned to IMT, IMTsham, RMT or RMTsham groups for an 8-week intervention (40min/day, 6 times/week). Primary outcomes were quality of life (EuroQol-5D questionnaire) and exercise tolerance (Ruffier test). Secondary outcomes were respiratory muscle function (inspiratory/expiratory muscle strength; inspiratory muscle endurance), physical function (lower and upper limb strength [1-min Sit-to-Stand and handgrip force]), lung function (forced spirometry), and psychological status (anxiety/depression levels and post-traumatic stress disorder). All outcomes were measured pre-, intermediate- (4th week), and post-intervention.
Results |
At post-intervention, there was a statistically significant and large (d>0.90) improvement in quality of life, but not in exercise tolerance, in the RMT group compared with the RMTsham group. Both of the real training groups produced a statistically significant and large increase in inspiratory muscle strength and endurance (d≥0.80) and in lower limb muscle strength (d≥0.77) compared with the 2 sham groups. Expiratory muscle strength and peak expiratory flow showed a statistically significant and large (d≥0.87) increase in the RMT group compared with the other 3 groups.
Conclusion |
Only an 8-week supervised home-based RMT programme was effective in improving quality of life, but not exercise tolerance, in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms. In addition, IMT and RMT programmes were effective in improving respiratory muscle function and lower limb muscle strength, but had no impact on lung function and psychological status.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : SARS-CoV-2, Respiratory muscle training, Quality of life, Maximal respiratory pressures, Telerehabilitation
Abbreviations : HRQoL, IMT, RMT, VAS, MIP, MEP, IME, 1-min STS, PTSD, PCL-C, PEF
Plan
Clinical Trials Registry. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04734561) |
Vol 66 - N° 1
Article 101709- février 2023 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.