A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included two studies with 52 subjects. Results showed that inspiratory muscle training compared to sham or no inspiratory muscle training improved endurance exercise capacity: (WMD) 264 metres (95% CI 16.4 to 512 metres). PiMax improved: WMD 25 cms H20 (95% CI 11.6 to 38.4 cms H2O ) as did quality of life measured with the CRQ: WMD 12.4 units (95% CI 2.4 to 22.5 units). The reviewers emphasize, that this review only provides evidence of the benefits of inspiratory muscle training and provides no evidence of the effect of other types of physical training (including pulmonary rehabilitation) in bronchiectasis.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study limitations(unclear allocation concealment) and byimprecise results (few patients).
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