Inspiratory Muscle Training, Autonomic Dysfunction and Blood Pressure

This study finds the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle threshold loading training among adults with hypertension. A sample of hypertensive subjects was divided into two groups - inspiratory muscle training (IMT) - group (inspiratory muscle training was prescribed) and sham-group (no load was prescribed during IMT). Both groups had training sessions comprising seven cycles of two minutes bouts of breathing counter to an inspiratory load, each bout parted by one minute of unloaded recovery. Treatment session was performed for three times per week for a total of six weeks. Measurement of each of the variables (blood pressure, resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV)) was taken at baseline and after the six-week intervention.