Long-term Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Long-term Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training in Individuals With Chronic Venous Insufficiency

The long-term effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training, which is known in the literature to help venous return by increasing the pump effect of the diaphragm muscle, remains unclear in individuals with chronic venous insufficiency. For this reason, in this study, it was aimed to investigate the long-term results of inspiratory muscle training in individuals with chronic venous insufficiency.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Chronic Venous Insufficiency
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Training group: Inspiratory muscle training; Other: Control group: Thoracic expansion exercise

Detailed Description

Initial treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) includes conservative methods such as reducing symptoms and helping to prevent secondary problems and disease progression. If conservative methods fail, further treatments based on anatomical and physiological pathophysiological features should be applied. Treatment of CVI ranges from simple compression stockings to very complicated venous reconstructions. Physiotherapy applications also have an important place in the treatment of CVI and contain patient education, complex decongestive physiotherapy, intermittent pneumatic compression, compression garment, venous exercise programs, biomechanical stimulation therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, relaxation techniques and hydrotherapy methods.

Researches investigating the effectiveness of new physiotherapy applications in CVI are very limited. In one of these publications, the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) and calf muscle exercise training (CMET) applied in addition to compression therapy (CT) on quality of life (QoL), venous filling time, disease severity, pain, edema, range of motion, muscle strength and functionality were investigated newly. IMT and CT were applied in group 1, CMET and CT were applied in group 2, and only CT was applied in group 3. As a result, groups of 1 and 2 showed more improvement in these outcomes compared to other groups. Acute effects of inspiratory muscle training in CVI was only shown in this study. The long-term effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training is still unclear in individuals with CVI. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the long-term results of inspiratory muscle training in individuals with CVI.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • İzmir, Turkey, 35140
    • Izmir Democracy University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age or older
• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency using duplex ultrasound and being under standard medical treatment follow-up
• Being in one of the C1, C2, C3, C4 or C5 stages according to the Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy and Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification

Exclusion Criteria:

• Acute deep vein thrombosis, active ulcers, psychiatric disorder requiring prior vessel ablation and/or prescription drug therapy,
• Any history of chronic disease or deep vein thrombosis that may interfere with exercise capacity measurement,
• Having SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) or any acute infection,
• Being pregnant,
• History of arterial disease,
• Having advanced cardiorespiratory diseases, acute ulcer (< 3 months) and diabetic ulcers.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Training group; The individuals in the training group will be performed inspiratory muscle training using an inspiratory muscle training device (PowerBreathe®) at 30-50% of the maximal inspiratory pressure.	Other: Training group: Inspiratory muscle training; The individuals in the training group will be performed inspiratory muscle training at 30-50% of the maximal inspiratory pressure. Inspiratory muscle training will be done using an inspiratory muscle training device (PowerBreathe®) that works with the threshold loading principle. Inspiratory muscle training will be done for 15 minutes per a session, 2 times per a day or, if tolerated, 30 minutes per a day and 1 time per a day, 5-7 days/week (one session under the supervision and the others at home), for a total of 6 weeks. Applications made at home will be followed with a diary.; Other Names: Experimental: Training group
Sham Comparator: Control group; Individuals in the control group will be performed thoracic expansion exercises.	Other: Control group: Thoracic expansion exercise; Individuals in the control group will be performed thoracic expansion exercises. Thoracic expansion exercises will be applied to individuals in an upright sitting position. In this position, individuals will place their hands on their lower ribs and then perform the cycle of "deep breathing + holding the deep breath for 3 seconds + slowly emptying all the breath" 3 times in a row. After this cycle, individuals will be asked to rest by taking 3-4 calm breaths. Immediately after, the individual will be asked to repeat the same cycle and repeat the cycle with calm breaths and rest until it reaches 10 repetitions. The individual will do this session 4 times a day. Individuals will do the first session of breathing exercises under supervision. In this way, incorrect exercise will be prevented. Other breathing exercise sessions will be done by individuals as a home program every day and 4 sessions a day during 6 weeks.; Other Names: Sham Comparator: Control group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP)	The MIP which shows respiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using a portable mouth pressure measuring device based on American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)	The MEP which shows respiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using a portable mouth pressure measuring device based on American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Forced vital capacity (FVC)	Pulmonary function (Forced vital capacity (FVC)) will be evaluated with a spirometer.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)	Pulmonary function (Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)) will be evaluated with a spirometer.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
FEV1 / FVC	Pulmonary function (FEV1 / FVC) will be evaluated with a spirometer.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume (FEF 25-75%)	Pulmonary function (Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume (FEF 25-75%)) will be evaluated with a spirometer.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Peak flow rate (PEF)	Pulmonary function (Peak flow rate (PEF)) will be evaluated with a spirometer.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Pain Intensity measured with the Numerical Rating Scale.	Pain intensity will be measured with the Numerical Rating Scale. This scale expresses the severity of pain with integers from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst possible pain).	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Aerobic capacity	The six-minute walk test (6-MWT) will be performed according to the criteria of the American Thoracic Society for the evaluation of aerobic capacity.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Lower extremity strength	To determine lower extremity strength and functional mobility, the 30-second Sit-Up Test will be used in the chair.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.
Total quality of life score evaluated by Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire	The score will be evaluated using Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire. Each question is scored on a 5-item Likert scale. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.	After 6-week training and 3 months after 6-week training ends.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Izmir Democracy University
• Investigators: Study Director: GÜLŞAH BARĞI, Assoc. Dr., Izmir Democracy University; Principal Investigator: ÖZLEM ÇİNAR ÖZDEMİR, Assoc. Dr., Izmir Democracy University; Principal Investigator: CEMRE GÖRÜNMEZOĞLU, MSc, Izmir Democracy University; Principal Investigator: DÜNDAR ÖZALP KARABAY, Prof. Dr., Dokuz Eylül University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Eberhardt RT, Raffetto JD. Chronic venous insufficiency. Circulation. 2005 May 10;111(18):2398-409. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000164199.72440.08. No abstract available.
• Aydin G, Yeldan I, Akgul A, Ipek G. Effects of inspiratory muscle training versus calf muscle training on quality of life, pain, venous function and activity in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord. 2022 Sep;10(5):1137-1146. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2022.04.012. Epub 2022 Jun 14.
• Weiss RA, Munavalli G. Endovenous ablation of truncal veins. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2005 Dec;24(4):193-9. doi: 10.1016/j.sder.2005.10.006.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 8, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 18, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 16, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pain; quality of life; exercise capacity; edema; Venous Insufficiency; respiratory function tests; maximal respiratory pressures
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Venous Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: Long effects of IMT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No