Efficacy of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function and six minute walk distance in cotton industry workers

Abstract

Aim: To investigate whether inspiratory muscle training along with aerobic exercise is more beneficial in cotton industry workers in terms of various outcome measures such as pulmonary function, six minute walk distance and quality of life. newlineMaterials and Methods: 132 male cotton industry workers were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly allocated into two groups. The experimental group (n=66) received inspiratory muscle training and aerobic exercise and control group (n=66) received only aerobic exercise.Each group received the supervised specific treatment four times weekly for the four weeks. The follow up was taken at the end of one year. The outcome measures used were Pulmonary Function Test (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR), SixMinute Walk Distance (6MWD) and quality of life evaluated using St. George s respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). I newlineResults and Discussion: ANOVA test was used for data analysis for all the workers. There was no significant difference (pgt0.05) found in demography data of both groups of workers. There was statistically significant differences (plt0.05) found in all the outcome measures in both groups. Further, comparison was done between the groups. It was found that statistically significance difference (plt0.05) in FVC (p=0.026), FEV1/FVC (p=0.040), PEFR (p=0.015), 6MWD (p=0.019) and quality of life score (p=0.029); no significant difference was found in FEV1(p=0.819). newlineConclusion: Aerobic exercise along with inspiratory muscle training is a meaningful addition in pulmonary rehabilitation program for increasing pulmonary function, six minute walk distance and quality of life in cotton industry workers. newline newline