The main symptoms of heart failure include dyspnea, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Respiratory muscle weakness is a major cause of these symptoms.
Rehabilitation therapy using Breathing Dumbbells further supports return to activity by improving dyspnea and exercise intolerance and oxygen supply, as well as cardiac autonomy and blood flow to the extremities. RMT may further reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering blood pressure.
Purpose of usage
- Strengthen the inspiratory muscles (diaphragm, external intercostal muscles, accessory neck muscles) and expiratory muscles (internal intercostal muscles, abdominal muscles)
- Promote diaphragmatic breathing
- Reduce shortness of breath
- Improve blood flow in stationary and moving limbs
- Delay activation of metabolic reflex
Specific clinical benefits
- Increase maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure (PImax, PEmax)
- Reduce dyspnea (BORG scale)
- Improve exercise tolerance (6MWT)
- Reduce hyperinflation and increase inspiratory fraction and volume (IC, IF)
- Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF, PEF) increase
- Increase blood oxygen saturation
- Improve cardiac autonomic and sympathetic nervous activity
- Reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Other benefits
- Improve quality of life(QOL)
- Reduce hospitalization and healthcare needs
- Reduce the risk of death
Training Programs:
Note: These are program recommendations based on clinical evidence from RMT. These recommendations should not replace the therapist's clinical judgment and will still need to be adapted to each patient's case, condition, and preferences.
RMT Goals:
2 sets of 10 breaths per set, 2 times per day (morning and evening), 6 days per week.
Intensity:
Approximately 30% of maximum respiratory pressure. The correct setting should allow you to endure a set of 10 breaths without fatigue. Please note that inhalation and exhalation settings need to be determined and set separately.
Continuous Therapy:
Increase settings according to increasing respiratory muscle strength, but do not increase intensity (i.e., maintain 30% of MIP/MEP).
Record progress:
Prepare an RMT diary to record respiratory pressure values and number of sessions, settings and other comments.