High-Intensity Respiratory Muscle Training in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

The training program will be carried-out with the Orygen Dual Valve. Individuals will perform a home-based intervention, split into two daily 20-min sessions (morning and afternoon), totaling 40 min per day, seven times a week, during eight weeks. Each daily session will be composed into four blocks of three minutes, with a two-minute rest between blocks. The initial training load for each participant will be set at 60% of his/her maximal baseline MIP and MEP for both inspiratory and expiratory strength training, respectively. Borg score of dyspnea and effort was also considered for adjusting training intensity, and scores from 4 to 6 were targeted. Once a week, a trained researcher will visit their homes, the MIP and MEP will be evaluated and the training load will be progressed to ensure that 60% of the new pressure values are maintained.

The control/sham group will underwent exactly the same protocol and weekly monitoring at home, but the participants will receive the devices without resistance of the spring.