High-Intensity Inspiratory Muscle Training in Pulmonary Hypertension: What a Randomized Controlled Trial Found

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who see patients with pulmonary hypertension or other cardiopulmonary diagnoses in outpatient, hospital-based or home settings, and who want a clear account of what one randomized trial of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training actually reported.

Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in cardiopulmonary, acute care, outpatient and home health practice; the material is also relevant to rehabilitation clinicians who screen for respiratory muscle weakness or administer the 6-minute walk test.

Intended audience

Physical Therapy

Level

Intermediate

Delivery format

Online, asynchronous, self-paced course: interactive reading with audio or video, and a scored post-test.

Based on

This course is built on a single primary source, a single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted at a pulmonary hypertension center in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Every finding, number and conclusion in this course traces to that report.

da Fontoura FF, Roncato G, Meyer GMB, da Luz Goulart C, Spilimbergo FB, Cipriano Junior G, Bernadeli MG, Rigatto K, Berton DC. Inspiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity, Dyspnoea and Health Status in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Respirology. 2025;30(8):760-769. doi:10.1111/resp.70054. PMID: 40417782. PMCID: PMC12321694.

Trial registration: RBR-33gm3k (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-33gm3k)

Scope note

This course reports what the investigators did and found. It does not issue clinical recommendations, and it does not extend the findings beyond the population the trial enrolled.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Describe the population, the training load and schedule, and the sham comparison used in this randomized controlled trial of high-intensity inspiratory muscle training in pulmonary hypertension.
2. State what the trial reported for inspiratory muscle strength, 6-minute walk distance, breathlessness during and outside of exercise, and health status.
3. Explain the limits the authors placed on their own findings, including who was enrolled, which pulmonary hypertension subgroups were represented, and what remains unknown.

1. Start Here: how this course works and what the source is
2. Podcast: Inspiratory Muscle Training in Pulmonary Hypertension (about nine minutes)
3. Why Inspiratory Muscle Training Was Tested in Pulmonary Hypertension
4. How the Trial Was Run: Training Load, Dose and the Sham Comparison
5. What Changed: Inspiratory Strength, Walking Distance, Breathlessness and Health Status
6. Where the Evidence Is Thin: Limits of a Small Single-Center Trial
7. What the Findings Could Mean for Cardiopulmonary Practice
8. Key Takeaways
9. Post-test and course evaluation

Quinn Millington, PT, DPT, ECS is the instructor of record: the licensed clinician who reviewed this course and signed off on it. The name and credentials print on the certificate.

Disclosures. This course was developed by The ConEd Solution, which has a financial interest in its sale. No outside funding or sponsorship was received. The instructor of record has no affiliation with the authors of the source publication or their institutions.

This course awards 0.5 contact hours (30 min). How you earn them:

1. Complete the course. Every lesson, in order.
2. Pass the post-test. Score 80% or higher. Retakes are allowed.
3. Complete the evaluation. A short form rating each learning objective and the course.
4. Download your certificate. It is issued on completion and stays available in My Account.

The episode time is its measured length. Reading, post-test and evaluation times are estimates.

This course is designed to satisfy the quality requirements state boards set for continuing education. Requirements vary by state, and confirming that a course fits your renewal is up to you. Each state’s own acceptance statement is in the credit panel on this page.

1. This course is built on a single primary source, a single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted at a pulmonary hypertension center in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Every finding, number and conclusion in this course traces to that report.
2. da Fontoura FF, Roncato G, Meyer GMB, da Luz Goulart C, Spilimbergo FB, Cipriano Junior G, Bernadeli MG, Rigatto K, Berton DC. Inspiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity, Dyspnoea and Health Status in Pulmonary Hypertension: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Respirology. 2025;30(8):760-769. doi:10.1111/resp.70054. PMID: 40417782. PMCID: PMC12321694.
3. Trial registration: RBR-33gm3k (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-33gm3k)
4. Scope note
5. This course reports what the investigators did and found. It does not issue clinical recommendations, and it does not extend the findings beyond the population the trial enrolled.