Patients' pulmonary functions and diffusion capacity worsen following lung cancer surgery. Diaphragmatic activity and lung compliance decrease due to surgery. Peripheral and respiratory muscle functions are impaired in patients with lung cancer, exercise capacity and physical activity level decreased. Patients have postural instability and balance problems. Inspiratory muscle training has increased inspiratory muscle strength in patients with lung cancer. However, there is no study investigating functional inspiratory muscle training in patients with lung cancer.
Lung cancer is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in lung tissues. The main treatment methods for lung cancer are chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy are also among the treatment options. Patients with lung cancer experience various symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, fatigue, weight loss due to the disease process, the effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, and comorbidities. The treatment method varies depending on the histological type, stage, location of the tumor, and the physical condition of the patient. Surgery is performed as a therapeutic option for many patients with lung cancer. Lung cancer surgery impair the cardiorespiratory functions of the patients. Patients' pulmonary functions and diffusion capacity worsen following lung cancer surgery. In lung cancer patients, the incision applied to the respiratory muscles due to surgery and changes in the mechanics of the chest wall cause worsening of respiratory muscle function. The condition results in dyspnea in patients at rest and during activities of daily living. Mitochondrial dysfunction due to the pathogenesis of the disease and chemotherapy/radiotherapy leads to deterioration in muscle oxygen metabolism. In individuals with reduced muscle oxygen, exercise tolerance and muscle strength decrease. Impairment of diaphragm function is associated with decreased postural stability after lung cancer surgery. Patients with lung cancer have postural instability and balance problems. Lung cancer significantly affects the quality of life of patients, limiting their physical and social activities. Inspiratory muscle training is recommended as part of disease management for lung cancer. In the literature, there are studies investigating the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training in lung cancer patients in the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative periods. However, there is no study investigating functional inspiratory muscle training in patients with lung cancer. Functional inspiratory muscle training (IMT) was developed by McConnell. It is a program that is based on the functions of respiratory muscles other than breathing, and IMT is applied along with exercise. The primary aim of this study: To investigate the effects of functional inspiratory muscle training on oxygen consumption, muscle oxygenation, balance and physical activity level in patients with lung cancer. The secondary aim of this study: To investigate the effects of functional inspiratory muscle training on pulmonary functions, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, inspiratory and trunk muscle endurance, cough strength, fatigue, dyspnea and quality of life in patients with lung cancer.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
40
Patients will be given fundamental inspiratory muscle training with the inspiratory muscle training device at 50% of the maximal inspiratory pressure 30 min/day, 3 days/week for 4 weeks online with a physiotherapist. On the other days of the week, the training will be used as a home program. In the 5th week, the functional inspiratory muscle training program will be started. Before the program begins, patients will be shown the exercises in the functional inspiratory muscle training program. Patients will be given functional inspiratory muscle training with the inspiratory muscle training device at 50% of the maximal inspiratory pressure 30 min/day, 3 days/week for 4 weeks online with a physiotherapist. On the other days of the week, fundamental inspiratory muscle training will be used as a home program. Pressure increases will be made weekly to 10 centimeters of water (cmH2O). Unsupervised training sessions will be followed by charts filled out by patients.
The control group will not be given any training during the 8-week period. After the study, the treatment applied to the training group will also be applied to the control group in order to ensure that the patients in the control group are not ethically deprived of rehabilitation.
Gazi University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Unit
Ankara, Çankaya, Turkey (Türkiye)
RECRUITINGOxygen Consumption
Maximum exercise capacity will be assessed by symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill at gradually increasing speed and degree, and oxygen consumption will be measured during the test.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Muscle oxygenation
Muscle oxygenation of the quadriceps femoris (during the exercise test) and the diaphragm, scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscle, and rectus abdominis muscle (at rest) will be assessed with a muscle oxygen monitor.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Balance
Balance will be evaluated using a balance assessment device.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Balance (timed up and go test)
Balance will be evaluated a timed up and go test.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Physical activity level
A multi-sensor activity monitor will be used to assess the level of physical activity.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Respiratory Muscle Strength
Maximal inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using mouth pressure device.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Respiratory Muscle Endurance
The test will be started at 30% of maximum inspiratory pressure and the inspiratory threshold load will be increased by 10% of the maximal inspiratory pressure value every two minutes. New pressure loading will be maintained without removing the device from the mouth. If the individual cannot breathe 3 consecutive times, the test will be terminated by the physiotherapist. The total duration of the test and the maximum pressure value at which it continues to breathe for at least 1 minute will be multiplied. The value found will be recorded as the respiratory muscle endurance value.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Pulmonary function (Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1))
Pulmonary function will be evaluated with the spirometry. Dynamic lung volume measurements will be made according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. With the device, forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Pulmonary function (Forced vital capacity (FVC))
Pulmonary function will be evaluated with the spirometry. Dynamic lung volume measurements will be made according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. With the device, forced vital capacity (FVC) will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Pulmonary function (FEV1/FVC)
Pulmonary function will be evaluated with the spirometry. Dynamic lung volume measurements will be made according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. With the device, FEV1 / FVC will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Pulmonary function (Flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume (FEF 25-75%))
Pulmonary function will be evaluated with the spirometry. Dynamic lung volume measurements will be made according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. With the device, flow rate 25-75% of forced expiratory volume (FEF 25-75%) will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Pulmonary function (Peak flow rate (PEF))
Pulmonary function will be evaluated with the spirometry. Dynamic lung volume measurements will be made according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society criteria. With the device, peak flow rate (PEF) will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Peripheral Muscle Strength
Shoulder abduction and knee extensor muscle strength using portable hand held dynamometer will be evaluated.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Trunk muscle endurance
Trunk muscle endurance will be evaluated with the pelvic bridge test and partial sit-up test.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Cough Strength
Cough strength will be assessed using a peak cough flow meter (PEFmeter) (ExpiRite Peak Flow Meter, China).
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Dyspnea
Modified Borg Scale: The Modified Borg scale is a subjective scale that scores 0-10 for breathlessness and fatigue at rest and/or during activity. The lowest 0 points "not at all" the highest 10 points "very severe" means shortness of breath. The Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale will be used to determine the perception of dyspnea during activities of daily living.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Fatigue
Fatigue will be assessed with Fatigue Severity Scale (Turkish version). This scale includes 9 items and each item scores from 1 (strong disagreement) to 7 (strong agreement) point. Fatigue Severity Scale total score is calculates by deriving an arithmetic mean. Cut-score of over 4 means significant fatigue and higher score indicates more severe fatigue.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
Disease Specific Quality of Life
Quality of life will be measured using Turkish version of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 version 3.0 (EORTCQLQ). The cancer-specific questionnaire has 30 questions and incorporates five functional scales, three symptom scales, a global health status and several single items. All item scores are transformed to 0-100. Higher values indicate higher functional/health level in functional scales, a higher quality of life level in global health status and increased symptoms in symptom scales.
Time frame: Trough study completion, an average of 2 year
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