Scherer 2000.

Study characteristics
Methods	Study design: RCT Study grouping: parallel‐group
Participants	Baseline characteristics IMT N (randomized/analyzed): not reported/15 Loss to follow‐up or excluded: not reported Age, mean (SD) in years: 66.9 (9.2) Gender (M/F): 9/6 BMI, mean (SD), kg/m²: 23.8 (3) Control/sham N (randomized/analyzed): 15 Loss to follow‐up or excluded: not reported Age, mean (SD): 71.0 (4.6) Gender (M/F): 10/5 BMI, mean (SD), kg/m²: 25.9 (3.48) Overall N (randomized/analyzed): 34/30 Loss to follow‐up or excluded: 4 Range age (min, max): 46,80 Gender (M/F): 19/11 COPD stage (GOLD): moderate to severe Included criteria Chronic airflow obstruction (FEV1 < 70%pred, FEV1/FVC < 70%pred, < 15% improvement in FEV1 after bronchodilatation with 200 mg of albuterol inhaled from a pressurized metered‐dose inhaler with a spacer) Aged 20‐80 years A stable clinical condition for at least 1 month The patients’ physical activity had to be limited by pulmonary dyspnea only Excluded criteria Patients with dyspnea at rest Cardiac disease, poor compliance, drug or alcohol abuse, pregnancy or lactation, a requirement for supplemental oxygen, CO2 retention, or use of any mechanical ventilatory support
Interventions	Intervention characteristics IMT: respiratory muscle endurance training was conducted twice daily, 5 d/week for 8 weeks. The device was developed and consisted of tubing (I.D. 5 19 mm) connecting a rebreathing bag with a mouthpiece at a 90° angle. The breathing frequency was 60% of MVV. Control/sham: participants trained following the same pattern of the description above, at no load using incentive spirometer (COACH 2 Volumetric Incentive Spirometer; DHD Healthcare, Canastota, NY). The respiratory rate was 6‐8 breaths/min, and the target inspiration was set at 70% of each participant’s ventilatory capacity.
Outcomes	Dyspnea: BDI‐TDI (Total) Functional exercise capacity:  6MWD Exercise time (treadmill) Respiratory muscle strength: PImax (RV) Laboratory exercise test: VO2peak (mL/kg/min) Respiratory muscle endurance time: Tlim Notes: respiratory muscle endurance was measured as sustained ventilation at 66% of each participant’s highest MVV. The time during which participants were able to sustain this target ventilation was recorded. If a participant surpassed 15 min of breathing at this level, the test was repeated on the following day at 75% of MVV. Respiratory function: FEV1 (%pred)
Identification	Sponsorship source: supported by grants from Astra Pharmaceutica, Dietikon, and Merck Sharpe and Dohme‐Chibret, and Rhône‐Poulenc Rorer Country: Switzerland Setting: outpatient clinic of the Pulmonary Division of the Triemli Hospital Author's name: Thomas A. Scherer Institution: LungenZentrum Hirslanden Email: thsche@swissonline.ch Address: Witellikerstrasse 36, 8008 Zurich, Switzerland
Notes