Exercise-Based Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Interstitial Lung Diseases: A Review of Components, Prescription, Efficacy, and Safety

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders (such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, asbestosis, and pneumonitis) characterized by lung parenchymal impairment, inflammation, and fibrosis. The shortness of breath (i.e., dyspnea) is a hallmark and disabling symptom of ILDs. Patients with ILDs may also exhibit skeletal muscle dysfunction, oxygen desaturation, abnormal respiratory patterns, pulmonary hypertension, and decreased cardiac function, contributing to exercise intolerance and limitation of day-to-day activities. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) including physical exercise is an evidence-based approach to benefit functional capacity, dyspnea, and quality of life in ILD patients. However, despite recent advances and similarities with other lung diseases, the field of PR for patients with ILD requires further evidence. This mini-review aims to explore the exercise-based PR delivered around the world and evidence supporting prescription modes, considering type, intensity, and frequency components, as well as efficacy and safety of exercise training in ILDs. This review will be able to strengthen the rationale for exercise training recommendations as a core component of the PR for ILD patients

Acute effects of different inspiratory resistive loading on heart rate variability in healthy elderly patients

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular system is noticeably affected by respiration. However, whether different inspiratory resistive loading intensities can influence autonomic heart rate (HR) modulation remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to investigate HR modulation at three different inspiratory resistive loading intensities in healthy elderly men. METHOD: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study that evaluated 25 healthy elderly men. Cardiac autonomic modulation was assessed using heart rate variability (HRV) indices. All of the volunteers underwent maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) measurements according to standardized pulmonary function measurements. Three randomly-applied inspiratory resistive loading (30, 60 and 80% of MIP) intensities were then applied using an inspiratory resistance device (POWERbreathe, Southam, UK), during which the volunteers were asked to inhale for 2 seconds and exhale for 3 seconds and complete 12 breaths per minute. Each effort level was performed for 4 minutes, and HR and the distance between 2 subsequent R waves of electrocardiogram (R-R intervals) were collected at rest and at each intensity for further HRV analysis. RESULTS : The parasympathetic HRV (rMSSD, SD1 and HF) indices demonstrated lower values at 80% (rMSSD: 19±2 ms, SD1: 13±2 ms and HF: 228±61 ms2) than at 30% MIP (rMSSD: 25±3 ms, SD1: 18±2 ms and HF: 447±95 ms2; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lower inspiratory resistive loading intensities promoted a marked and positive improvement of parasympathetic sinus node modulation