Home-Based Respiratory Muscle Strength Training Program for Individuals With Post-COVID-19 Persistent Dyspnea

University of South Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dyspnea; Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Treatments: Device: Respiratory Muscle Strength Trainers

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06091280

006272

Details and patient eligibility

About

To evaluate the extent to which a 12-week respiratory rehabilitation program consisting of inspiratory and expiratory breathing exercises compared to expiratory breathing exercises alone will help to improve shortness of breath, respiratory symptoms, breathing function, distance walked, and quality of life in those who are experiencing persistent shortness of breath after having had COVID-19. Measurements will take place at the beginning, 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks in the study.

Full description

To evaluate the extent to which a 12-week respiratory rehabilitation program consisting of inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength training exercises as compared to a prior study of expiratory muscle strength training alone is effective in improving dyspnea, respiratory symptoms, quantitative measures of pulmonary function, physical performance, and quality of life in individuals reporting persistent dyspnea post-COVID-19 at baseline, six and twelve weeks.

Enrollment: 25 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Self-reported history of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis in the past.
• Able to walk independently
• Cognitively intact
• English-speaking
• Dyspnea at rest or with activity rated at 3 or greater on the Dyspnea on Exertion scale.
• May use oxygen.
• May be taking medications.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals who are wheelchair bound or who cannot walk independently.
• Individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 who self-report that they received mechanical ventilation during hospitalization.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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25 participants in 1 patient group

Respiratory Muscle Strength Training

Experimental group

Description:

Pursed Lip Breathing: Participants will perform two sets of 10 repetitions twice per day. Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST): The participant will use an IMST trainer provided by the study (Threshold Inspiratory Muscle Strength Trainer). This exercise is repeated for a 3-minute duration, followed by a rest period of 2 minutes. This cycle is repeated for 6 cycles over a 30-minute timespan. This exercise will be performed 3 times/week on alternating days. Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST): The participant will use an EMST trainer (EMST 150) provided by the study. This exercise is repeated for a 3-minute duration, followed by a rest period of 2 minutes. The cycle is repeated for 6 cycles over a 30-minute timespan. This exercise will be performed 3 x/week on opposite days of the inspiratory muscle strength training.

Treatment:

Device: Respiratory Muscle Strength Trainers