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The influence of inspiratory muscle training upon exertional breathlessness in healthy elderly men and women
thesis
posted on 2011-02-10, 11:26 authored by Andrew J. CopestakeBreathlessness is a common complaint amongst seemingly, healthy, elderly people, mild exertion being sufficient to illicit extremely
debilitating sensations. This places an unacceptable physical limitation on
the individual and reduces their quality of life. Previous investigators
have suggested that the strength and condition of the respiratory muscles
are contributing factors in the sensation of breathlessness on exertion
(Aldrich, 1990; Killian, 1990). Therefore, the aim of the research contained
within the thesis, was firstly; to characterise the respiratory muscle
function of a group of healthy elderly subjects, and secondly; to assess the
influence of inspiratory muscle training upon the genesis of exertional
breathlessness in healthy, elderly men and women.
The respiratory muscle strength of a group of healthy, elderly people was
determined by measuring the maximum static and dynamic respiratory
pressures on two occasions separated by approximately one week. The
results suggested the maximum (or minimum) mouth pressure averaged
over a one second period, measured using a hand-held mouth pressure
meter (Precision Medical Ltd, U.K.), represents a reliable and reproducible
index of respiratory muscle function in healthy, elderly subjects. In
addition, the data was used to establish a contemporary set of prediction
equations, and normal values were derived to facilitate the estimation of
respiratory muscle strength in healthy, elderly subjects.
Finally, the data suggested that the respiratory muscle function of healthy,
elderly people declines with advancing age. However, the strength of the
respiratory muscles does not correlate significantly with indices of body
size, but is strongly influenced by customary levels of physical activity.
Breathlessness during both cycle ergometry and treadmill walking was
measured using both the visual analogue scale and the modified Borg
scale. For healthy, elderly subjects, poor correlations existed between
exertional breathlessness and the prevailing level of ventilation. Mean
breathlessness scores were therefore used as an alternative index of
breathlessness. The use of this parameter was validated by examining its
reproducibility during both cycle and treadmill exercise. During cycle
ergometry, the modified Borg scale provided more reproducible ratings of
breathlessness than the visual analogue scale. However, a treadmill walking protocol was developed, which induces breathlessnesss afely, and
during which, elderly people rated their breathlessnessr eproducibly using
both the VAS and modified Borg scale. In general, elderly subjects
preferred using the modified Borg scale.
Finally, the role of the respiratory muscles in the genesis of exertional
breathlessness was examined by determining the influence of inspiratory
muscle training upon the sensation of breathlessness during treadmill
exercise. Respiratory muscle training, using an inspiratory muscle
training device, increased the inspiratory muscle strength of healthy,
elderly men and women by approximately 20% and ameliorated the
sensation of exertional breathlessness by 21.4%. Inspiratory muscle
training was also associated with improvements in elderly people's
subjective perception of their breathing, their ability to perform daily
routine activities and their "well-being". Together, these results suggest
that inspiratory muscle training may improve the quality of life of healthy, elderly people.
Funding
Research Into Ageing
History
School
- Design and Creative Arts
Department
- Design
Publisher
Loughborough UniversityRights holder
© A.J. CopestakePublication date
1995Notes
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.EThOS Persistent ID
uk.bl.ethos.481230Language
- en
Supervisor(s)
Alison McConnellQualification name
- PhD
Qualification level
- Doctoral
This submission includes a signed certificate in addition to the thesis file(s)
- I have submitted a signed certificate