Pre- and post-training assessments
| IMT | Control | Between | ||||
| Pre | Post | Pre | Post | Mean dif. | 95% CI | |
| TDI, score | 6.2±1.2 | 3.2±2.6 | 3.0** | 0.9–5.1 | ||
| Exercise endurance time, min | 6.4±2.8 | 12.4±6.4** | 7.2±4.7 | 7.2±3.4 | 6.0* | 0.4–11.5 |
| Pulmonary function | ||||||
| FEV1, L | 2.1±0.5 | 2.5±0.8* | 2.2±0.7 | 2.4±0.8 | 0.1 | −0.2–0.5 |
| FVC, L | 3.0±0.5 | 3.6±0.8** | 3.1±1.1 | 3.4±1.1* | 0.3 | −0.2–0.8 |
| FVCsupine-FVCseated, % dif | −29±9 | −23±6 | −24±8 | −18±4 | −12 | −24–1 |
| MVV, L | 89±44 | 108±58* | 78±17 | 85±18 | 8 | −36–52 |
| IC, L | 2.6±0.5 | 3.1±0.8** | 2.5±0.9 | 3.1±1.3* | −0.1 | −0.6–0.5 |
| TLC, L | 5.4±2.7 | 5.9±2.6 | 5.2±2.7 | 5.4±2.8* | 0.7 | −2.6–4.0 |
| RV, L | 2.3±1.2 | 2.3±1.0 | 2.1±1.0 | 2.1±1.0 | 0.2 | −1.3–1.7 |
| TGV, L | 3.0±1.5 | 3.3±1.5 | 2.6±1.2 | 2.9±1.4 | 0.3 | −1.5–2.2 |
| Respiratory muscle strength | ||||||
| PI,max, cmH2O | 79±27 | 103±19** | 88±23 | 84±21 | 28** | 13–43 |
| PE,max, cmH2O | 221±96 | 219±81 | 198±103 | 190±92 | 4 | −44–53 |
| Pes,sniff, cmH2O | −53±20 | −66±22*** | −52±16 | −54±20 | −10 | −22–1 |
| Pga,sniff, cmH2O | −4±7 | −6±6 | −3±2 | −5±6 | 0 | −6–7 |
| Pdi,sniff, cmH2O | 49±17 | 60±22** | 53±27 | 52±28 | 12* | 0–23 |
| Pga,cough, cmH2O | 208±33 | 212±26 | 202±98 | 197±96 | 9 | −15–32 |
| Pdi,tw affected, cmH2O | 1±1 | 3±3 | 3±3 | 6±4 | 0 | −4–4 |
| Pdi,tw unaffected, cmH2O | 9±7 | 9±5 | 8±2 | 8±5 | 3 | −3–8 |
| Pdi,tw bilateral, cmH2O | 10±6 | 10±7 | 9±2 | 9±3 | −1 | −6–4 |
| Phrenic nerve conductance | ||||||
| Latency, ms: | ||||||
| Affected | 14.3±7.7 | 13.4±7.1 | 10.5±5.9 | 10.2±5.6 | 0.9 | −3.4–5.3 |
| Unaffected | 8.6±1.6 | 8.8±1.8 | 8.0±3.8 | 8.9±4.1 | −0.6 | −5.0–3.8 |
| Amplitude, µV: | ||||||
| Affected | 143±150 | 182±163 | 100±55 | 300±217 | −39 | −255–178 |
| Unaffected | 495±221 | 630±200 | 450±321 | 575±472 | 35 | −305–375 |
Values represent mean±sd or mean difference and the lower to upper limit of the 95% confidence interval. dif.: difference; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 s; FVC: forced vital capacity; IC: inspiratory capacity; IMT: inspiratory muscle training; MVV: maximal voluntary ventilation; Pdi,sniff: transdiaphragmatic pressure during a sniff manoeuvre; Pdi,tw: transdiaphragmatic pressure during a supramaximal potentiated twitch; PE,max: maximal expiratory pressure; Pes,sniff: oesophageal pressure during a sniff manoeuvre; Pga,sniff: gastric pressure during a sniff manoeuvre; Pga,cough: gastric pressure during a cough manoeuvre; PI,max: maximal inspiratory pressure; RV: residual volume; TDI: transition dyspnoea index; TGV: thoracic gas volume; TLC: total lung capacity. *: p<0.05; **: p<0.01; ***: p<0.001.