Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of long-term inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function. However, the benefits of IMT with aerobic exercise (IMT + AE) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) remain unclear. This...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chia-Ling Chang, Tien-Pei Fang, Hsin-Mao Tsai, Hui-Chin Chen, Shih-Feng Liu, Hui-Ling Lin, Jui-Fang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03733-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850105485919780864
author Chia-Ling Chang
Tien-Pei Fang
Hsin-Mao Tsai
Hui-Chin Chen
Shih-Feng Liu
Hui-Ling Lin
Jui-Fang Liu
author_facet Chia-Ling Chang
Tien-Pei Fang
Hsin-Mao Tsai
Hui-Chin Chen
Shih-Feng Liu
Hui-Ling Lin
Jui-Fang Liu
author_sort Chia-Ling Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of long-term inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function. However, the benefits of IMT with aerobic exercise (IMT + AE) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of the early, 6-week, moderate-intensity interval IMT + AE on pulmonary function, functional capacity, and respiratory muscle strength in patients with MG post-hospitalization. Methods Patients with Discharged MG were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard medical management or an intervention group undergoing six-week IMT + AE program. Respiratory status was evaluated using the maximum inspiratory/expiratory pressure (MIP/MEP) and pulmonary function tests. Modified Borg dyspnea scores and a six-minute walk test for functional capacity were also employed. Results Fifty-four participants were assigned to either the control (sixn = 28) or IMT + AE groups (n = 26). At 6 weeks, the IMT + AE group showed significant improvements across all parameters, while the control group only showed notable differences in the modified Borg scale scores and walking distance. MIP improvements were 33.8 ± 36.1 cmH2O in IMT and 22.1 ± 25.8 cmH2O in control groups (P = 0.18). The IMT + AE group improvements were more substantial in MEP, modified Borg scale, and 6-minute walk distance, in addition to forced vital capacity (FVC) and FVC % of prediction (0.21 ± 0.24 L and 6.17 ± 6.01%, respectively), while the control group showed decreased volumes (-0.06 ± 0.30 L and − 1.79 ± 9.69%, respectively). FVC improvement was significant with IMT + AE (0.21 ± 0.24 L) vs. reduction in the control group (-0.06 ± 0.3 L; P = 0.001). Conclusions Implementing six-week moderate-intensity interval IMT + AE effectively enhanced respiratory muscle strength, alleviated dyspnea, improved physical capacity, and increased FVC in patients with MG following hospitalization after discharge. Clinical trial registration The study was registered in The Clinical Trials Clinical Trial (NCT06624345|| https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ) on October 12, 2024 (retrospectively registered).
format Article
id doaj-art-939193a9e60d4e1986ba3a3d6def8c8a
institution OA Journals
issn 1471-2466
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Pulmonary Medicine
spelling doaj-art-939193a9e60d4e1986ba3a3d6def8c8a2025-08-20T02:39:04ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662025-05-0125111010.1186/s12890-025-03733-7Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trialChia-Ling Chang0Tien-Pei Fang1Hsin-Mao Tsai2Hui-Chin Chen3Shih-Feng Liu4Hui-Ling Lin5Jui-Fang Liu6Department of Respiratory Therapy, Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital - Under the management of Chang Gung Medical FoundationDepartment of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & ScienceDepartment of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Respiratory Therapy, Kaohsiung Municipal Fong Shan Hospital - Under the management of Chang Gung Medical FoundationDepartment of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Respiratory Care, Chang Gung University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of long-term inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on inspiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function. However, the benefits of IMT with aerobic exercise (IMT + AE) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the impact of the early, 6-week, moderate-intensity interval IMT + AE on pulmonary function, functional capacity, and respiratory muscle strength in patients with MG post-hospitalization. Methods Patients with Discharged MG were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard medical management or an intervention group undergoing six-week IMT + AE program. Respiratory status was evaluated using the maximum inspiratory/expiratory pressure (MIP/MEP) and pulmonary function tests. Modified Borg dyspnea scores and a six-minute walk test for functional capacity were also employed. Results Fifty-four participants were assigned to either the control (sixn = 28) or IMT + AE groups (n = 26). At 6 weeks, the IMT + AE group showed significant improvements across all parameters, while the control group only showed notable differences in the modified Borg scale scores and walking distance. MIP improvements were 33.8 ± 36.1 cmH2O in IMT and 22.1 ± 25.8 cmH2O in control groups (P = 0.18). The IMT + AE group improvements were more substantial in MEP, modified Borg scale, and 6-minute walk distance, in addition to forced vital capacity (FVC) and FVC % of prediction (0.21 ± 0.24 L and 6.17 ± 6.01%, respectively), while the control group showed decreased volumes (-0.06 ± 0.30 L and − 1.79 ± 9.69%, respectively). FVC improvement was significant with IMT + AE (0.21 ± 0.24 L) vs. reduction in the control group (-0.06 ± 0.3 L; P = 0.001). Conclusions Implementing six-week moderate-intensity interval IMT + AE effectively enhanced respiratory muscle strength, alleviated dyspnea, improved physical capacity, and increased FVC in patients with MG following hospitalization after discharge. Clinical trial registration The study was registered in The Clinical Trials Clinical Trial (NCT06624345|| https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ ) on October 12, 2024 (retrospectively registered).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03733-7Myasthenia gravisBreathing exercisesMuscle strengthPulmonary function testsMaximal respiratory pressures6-minute walk test
spellingShingle Chia-Ling Chang
Tien-Pei Fang
Hsin-Mao Tsai
Hui-Chin Chen
Shih-Feng Liu
Hui-Ling Lin
Jui-Fang Liu
Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Myasthenia gravis
Breathing exercises
Muscle strength
Pulmonary function tests
Maximal respiratory pressures
6-minute walk test
title Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
title_full Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
title_short Inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post-hospitalization- a randomized controlled trial
title_sort inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise for respiratory muscle strength in myasthenia gravis post hospitalization a randomized controlled trial
topic Myasthenia gravis
Breathing exercises
Muscle strength
Pulmonary function tests
Maximal respiratory pressures
6-minute walk test
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-025-03733-7
work_keys_str_mv AT chialingchang inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT tienpeifang inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT hsinmaotsai inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT huichinchen inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT shihfengliu inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT huilinglin inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial
AT juifangliu inspiratorymuscletrainingandaerobicexerciseforrespiratorymusclestrengthinmyastheniagravisposthospitalizationarandomizedcontrolledtrial