Respiratory strength training evaluated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In a randomized controlled trial, 45 people with early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were allocated to receive 12 weeks of active inspiratory and expiratory respiratory strength training (RST) or sham RST (control group).
Maximum expiratory pressure improved by an average of 20.8 cmH20 in the RST group, compared with a worsening of 1.0 cmH20 in the control arm, a significant difference. Participants in the RST group also experienced a greater improvement in mean maximum expiratory pressure than those given sham RST (8.9 vs 4.8 cmH20), but the between-group difference did not reach statistical significance. There were no RST-related adverse events.
The authors conclude that RST represents a proactive intervention that could improve the capacity of certain breathing functions in early ALS, and recommend additional research to establish the optimal training intensity and potential long-term benefits.