Tatsuya Morishita: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki; Department of Rehabilitation, Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki.
Shusuke Toyama: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki; Department of Rehabilitation, Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki.
Kazuaki Suyama: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki; Department of Rehabilitation, Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki.
Fumiya Nagata: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki; Department of Rehabilitation, Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki.
Masatoshi Itaki: Geriatric Health Services Facility Kiire, Kagoshima.
Takako Tanaka: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki; Department of Rehabilitation, Tagami Hospital, Nagasaki.
Shuntaro Sato: Clinical Research Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki.
Yuji Ishimatsu: Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
Terumitsu Sawai: Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
Ryo Kozu: Department of Physical Therapy Science, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki. Electronic address: ryokozu@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on cough strength in older people with frailty. DESIGN: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Day health care centers at 2 sites. PARTICIPANTS: Older people with frailty (N=60). INTERVENTIONS: Eligible people were randomly assigned to receive IMT program in addition to general exercise training (IMT group), or general exercise training alone (control group). The IMT group performed training using a threshold IMT device with the load set at 30% of maximum inspiratory mouth pressure in addition to the general exercise training program throughout the 8 weeks. The IMT took place twice a day and each session consisted of 30 breaths. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was cough strength, measured as the cough peak flow (CPF), at the beginning and the end of the program. RESULTS: Data from 52 participants (26 in each group) were available for the analysis. The mean age was 82.6 years; 33% were men. The change in CPF at the end of the program was 28.7±44.4 L/min in the IMT group and -7.4±26.6 L/min in the control group. A linear regression model showed that the presence or absence of IMT was associated with changes in CPF (mean difference between groups, 36.3; 95% confidence interval, 16.7-55.9; effect size, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: IMT may be a useful intervention to improve cough strength in frail older people.
