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  • Review Article
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Inspiratory muscle training on quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Spinal Cord volume 61, pages 359–367 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Study design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives

The objective was to summarize the effectiveness of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) on the quality of life in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

Methods

An online systematic literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed CENTRAL, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, SciELO, CINAHL/SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO. Randomized and non-randomized clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of IMT in quality of life were included in the present study. The results used the mean difference and 95% confidence interval for maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and the standardized mean differences for the quality of life and maximum ventilation volume.

Results

The search found 232 papers, and after the screening, four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analytical procedures (n = 150 participants). No changes were demonstrated in the quality of life domains (general health, physical function, mental health, vitality, social function, emotional problem, and pain) after IMT. The IMT provided a considerable effect over the MIP but not on FEV1 and MEP. Conversely, it was not able to provide changes in any of the quality of life domains. None of the included studies evaluated the IMT effects on the expiratory muscle maximal expiratory pressure.

Conclusion

Evidence from studies shows that inspiratory muscle training improves the MIP; however, this effect does not seem to translate to any change in the quality of life or respiratory function outcomes in individuals with SCI.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3: Forest plot of pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength.
Fig. 4: Risk of bias graph: review authors’ judgments about each Risk of bias, and an overview of the Risk of bias scores: Review authors’ judgments.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during the current study are included in this article and the Supplementary information files.

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Funding

Funding

This study was supported by the University of Brasília, Research and Innovation Decan, Edict 007/2021.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Science and Technology in Health Program (PPGCTS), University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil

    Letícia de Araújo Morais, Gerson Cipriano Jr & Graziella França Bernardelli Cipriano

  2. Rehabilitation Sciences Graduate Program (PPGCR), University of Brasília, Brasília, Brasil

    Gerson Cipriano Jr, Wagner Rodrigues Martins & Graziella França Bernardelli Cipriano

  3. Graduate Program in Human Movement and Rehabilitation of Evangelical (PPGMHR), UniEVANGÉLICA, Anápolis, Brazil

    Gerson Cipriano Jr & Gaspar R. Chiappa

  4. Master’s Program in Physical Therapy and Functioning, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil

    Magno F. Formiga

Authors
  1. Letícia de Araújo Morais
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Contributions

LAM was responsible for designing the review protocol, screening potentially eligible studies, extracting data, meta-analysis, writing the data, creating the table of results and figures, and writing the article. MFF was responsible for extracting and interpreting data and contributing to the writing of the article. GCJ was responsible for designing the review protocol, resolving discrepancies between authors, interpreting the data, and reviewing the writing of the article. GRC and WRM were responsible for assisting in the elaboration of the protocol, assisting in the meta-analysis, interpreting the results, and reviewing the writing of the article. GFBC contributed to developing the protocol, writing of data, interpretation of data and writing the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Letícia de Araújo Morais.

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de Araújo Morais, L., Cipriano, G., Martins, W.R. et al. Inspiratory muscle training on quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Spinal Cord 61, 359–367 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-023-00906-1

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