Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training/Positive Expiratory Pressure (IMT/PEP) Therapy on Respiratory Function Test Parameters in Group E COPD Patients

Introduct"on and Purpose: Our study a%med to %nvest%gate the effects of %nsp%ratory muscle

tra%n%ng and pos%t%ve exp%ratory pressure (IMT/PEP) therapy on pulmonary funct%on parameters,

exerc%se capac%ty, and qual%ty of l%fe %n COPD pat%ents.

Mater"als and Methods: Our prospect%ve study %ncluded 62 pat%ents w%th group E COPD adm%tted

to the Chest D%seases Cl%n%c of Atatürk Un%vers%ty Med%cal Faculty Research Hosp%tal. The

pat%ents were d%v%ded %nto study and control groups, and IMT/PEP treatment was adm%n%stered to

the study group. Pulmonary funct%on tests (FEV1, FVC, RV, TLC, DLCO), dyspnoea scores

(mMRC, CAT, MBS, VAS), exerc%se capac%ty (6MWT), and f%ngert%p oxygen saturat%on were

recorded at the beg%nn%ng of the study and re-evaluated at the 1st and 3rd months. Data were

analyzed us%ng the SPSS 27 stat%st%cal package program.

F"nd"ngs: At the end of the f%rst month, FEV1 (Lt and %), FVC (Lt and %), oxygen saturat%on,

and 6MWT d%stance %ncreased s%gn%f%cantly %n the study group. A decrease %n dyspnoea scores

(mMRC, CAT, VAS, MBS) was observed. At the end of the th%rd month, s%gn%f%cant %ncreases

were detected %n FEV1 (Lt and %), FEV1/FVC, MEF 25-75 (%), ΔDLCO (%), and MIP values,

and %mprovement %n dyspnoea scores cont%nued.

Conclus"on: IMT/PEP treatment %mproved pulmonary funct%on, exerc%se capac%ty, and qual%ty of

l%fe %n group E COPD pat%ents.These f%nd%ngs suggest that IMT/PEP therapy should be %ntegrated

%nto mult%d%sc%pl%nary treatment %n COPD pat%ents.