Russian Current and Expiratory Muscle Training in COPD Patients

Respiratory muscles are essential to alveolar ventilation. In COPD, these muscles work against increased mechanical loads due to airflow limitation and geometrical changes of the thorax derived from pulmonary hyperinflation. Respiratory muscle fibers show several degrees of impairment in cellular and subcellular structures which translates, from the functional point of view, to a loss of strength (capacity to generate tension) and an increased susceptibility to failure in the face of a particular load. Expiratory Muscle Training was recommended to strengthen expiratory muscles and minimize exacerbations in addition to delaying deterioration with better functional capacity. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is emerging as a new rehabilitation modality for muscle strengthening that does not evoke dyspnea to obtain a benefit in patients who are unable to participate in a traditional rehabilitation program