Respiratory muscle training may modestly improve some breathing measures in ALS
Original source
Effects of respiratory muscle training on respiratory function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Study type
- Systematic review
- Studied in
- Human
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials found that respiratory muscle training was associated with small improvements in several breathing measures and in the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised. The effect on forced vital capacity was uncertain, and longer-term clinical benefits were not established.
Why this matters
Respiratory muscle training may be considered an individualized addition to respiratory care for some people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The evidence does not show that it slows ALS or changes treatment, and the review found no reliable factors identifying who benefits most.
Limitations and context
The review included six studies, with only five contributing quantitative data. Most outcomes came from three or four small studies, and certainty ranged from moderate to very low. Larger, longer, standardised trials using outcomes important to patients are still needed.