Forward leaning position improves diaphragm function, reduces rib cage muscle
activity, and alleviates dyspnea.
Finally, inspiratory muscle training improves inspiratory muscle strength and
endurance, as well as dyspnea and the patient’s quality of
life. In addition, exercise performance was enhanced in
patients with inspiratory muscle weakness.
Use of abdominal muscle contraction during expiration seems to be beneficial to diaphragm function, but the effects on dyspnea were not studied.