To evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves inspiratory muscle strength, respiratory capacity, fatigue, and subjective perception of physical endurance in patients with advanced multiple sclerosis (MS).
Randomized controlled trial.
Outpatient clinic in Sweden.
Fifteen severely disabled patients with MS, randomized to a training or control group.
Seven patients trained with a Threshold inspiratory muscle trainer, twice every other day, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40%-60% of patients' maximal inspiratory pressure [Pimax]) over a 10-week period.
Spirometry, Pimax, maximal expiratory pressure (Pemax), clinical assessments, and questionnaires on the patients' fatigue severity and physical endurance were evaluated.