Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Exertional Breathlessness in Patients With Unilateral Diaphragm Paralysis

Two training sessions per day consisting of 30 breaths (against external load of \~50% Pi,max; 4-5 minutes per session), 7 days/week (once/month supervised at the research center), for 6 months will be performed using an electronic tapered flow resistive loading (TFRL) device (POWERbreathe®KH1, HaB International Ltd., Southam, UK) according to an established method. Measurements of Pi,max will be performed every week and training loads will be increased continuously to maintain external load at \~50% of Pi,max values. Ratings of perceived inspiratory effort on a modified Borg scale (4-5 out of 10) will also be used to support decisions on increasing training load.

Two daily sessions of 30 breaths using TFRL device (POWERbreathe®KH1, HaB International Ltd., Southam, UK) and will train at an inspiratory load of no more than 10% of their initial Pi,max. This training load will not be changed during the entire study period. Participants in the control group will be offered the active treatment upon completion of the study.