Evaluation of respiratory and peripheral muscle training in individuals undergoing myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effect of peripheral muscle strength training (PMT) and respiratory muscle strength training (RMT) muscle strength training associated with conventional physical therapy on the respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life in the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

METHODS

This was a randomized controlled trial. Eighty-three patients undergoing CABG were divided into two groups: Intervention group, patients that received PMT and RMT associated with conventional physical therapy, one session a day for 5 days; control group, patients that received conventional physical therapy, one session a day for 5 days. All patients had respiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life evaluated by manovacuometry, dynamometry, 6-min walking test, and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey Questionnaire, respectively, before and 5 days after CABG.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a significantly reduced respiratory muscle strength after CABG; however, in the intervention group, the inspiratory muscle strength reduction was lower (confidence interval [CI] 95%: 2.29 [1.9; 27.54]). The quality of live domains for pain (CI 95%: 3.08 [5.21; 24.97]) and vitality perception (CI 95%: 2.51 [2.12; 19.53]) worsened in the control and improved in the intervention group (pain: CI 95%: 1.19 [-3.38; 13.09]; vitality CI 95%: 0.07 [-6.55; 7.04]). Both groups showed reduced functional capacity and expiratory muscle strength after CABG.

CONCLUSION

Conventional physical therapy combined with PMT and RMT may reduce inspiratory muscle strength loss and improve pain and vitality perception in the immediate postoperative period after CABG.

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