Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations:  an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review.

Timothy O Jenkins; Laura Boyd; Emily Case; Allaina  Eden; Jo Hardy; Molly  Hashmi-Greenwood; Stephanie K Mansell; Ciara  McGurn; Laura McGarrigle; Catherine  Sandsund; Amanda  Thomas; Lauren Bell; Agnieszka Lewko

doi:10.56792/LZCL9680

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations: an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review.

Timothy O Jenkins
, Laura Boyd
, Emily Case
, Allaina Eden
, Jo Hardy
, Molly Hashmi-Greenwood
, Stephanie K Mansell
, Ciara McGurn
, Laura McGarrigle
, Catherine Sandsund
, Amanda Thomas
, Lauren Bell
, Agnieszka Lewko

Centre for Healthcare and Community Transformation

Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Royal Papworth Hospital
St James's University Hospital
Manchester Metropolitan University
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Ulster University
Wythenshawe Hospital
The Royal Marsden Hospital
City St George's, University of London
Coventry University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

29 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background
Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) aims to improve the strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles and clinical outcomes. Although widely studied, no scoping review has comprehensively investigated the extent, range and nature of literature investigating IMT in a range of clinical populations. IMT was identified as a priority area for review by members of The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC).
Objectives
The objectives of this scoping review were to: (1) explore the methodological characteristics of IMT in clinical populations, (2) report main study results by patient population, (3) identify research gaps or limitations in the literature to aid in the planning of future research or guidance.
Methods
Inclusion criteria: Adult patients with any disease process, including, but not limited to: Respiratory conditions; Critically ill patients; Neurological conditions; Prehabilitation prior to and following surgery; Heart failure, published between 2013 to 2025 in the following databases: AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Blinded screening of titles and abstracts were conducted by two reviewers. After exclusion of articles, data was extracted from full text articles by one reviewer.
Results
The search yielded 4168 articles. Following duplicate extraction and screening, 355 articles were included in this review. Patient populations included: neurological conditions (n=87), chronic and other respiratory conditions (n=89), surgery (n=86), heart failure (n=43), intensive care (n=34), and other (n=16). There was significant variability in IMT regimes within and between patient populations. IMT improves measures of respiratory strength and pulmonary function in a majority of studies, however, there is inconsistent evidence suggesting it can improve clinically relevant outcome measures.
Conclusion
This review highlights the need for optimisation of the IMT stimulus, along with well conducted trials with clinically relevant outcome measures in specific patient populations. Given the current breadth of evidence, and variability in IMT regimes,

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	30-40
Number of pages	11
Journal	Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care
Volume	1
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.56792/LZCL9680
Publication status	Published - 30 Jul 2026

Bibliographical note

Published in Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care. The final published version is available via DOI: 10.56792/LZCL9680. This journal is published as an open access title by ACPRC

Keywords

Inspiratory Muscle Training
Intensive care
COPD
Heart Failure
Stroke
Parkinsons
Surgery

Access to Document

10.56792/LZCL9680

Lewko2026VoRFinal published version, 812 KB

Cite this

Jenkins, T. O., Boyd, L., Case, E., Eden, A., Hardy, J., Hashmi-Greenwood , M., Mansell, S. K., McGurn, C., McGarrigle, L., Sandsund, C., Thomas, A., Bell, L., & Lewko, A. (2026). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations: an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review. Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care , 1(1), 30-40. https://doi.org/10.56792/LZCL9680

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations: an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review. / Jenkins, Timothy O; Boyd, Laura; Case, Emily et al.
In: Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care , Vol. 1, No. 1, 30.07.2026, p. 30-40.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Jenkins, TO, Boyd, L, Case, E, Eden, A, Hardy, J, Hashmi-Greenwood , M, Mansell, SK, McGurn, C, McGarrigle, L, Sandsund, C, Thomas, A, Bell, L & Lewko, A 2026, 'Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations: an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review.', Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care , vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 30-40. https://doi.org/10.56792/LZCL9680

@article{902ff7ed0b2a4d409e058e5cda935291,

title = "Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations: an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review.",

abstract = "Background Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) aims to improve the strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles and clinical outcomes. Although widely studied, no scoping review has comprehensively investigated the extent, range and nature of literature investigating IMT in a range of clinical populations. IMT was identified as a priority area for review by members of The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC). Objectives The objectives of this scoping review were to: (1) explore the methodological characteristics of IMT in clinical populations, (2) report main study results by patient population, (3) identify research gaps or limitations in the literature to aid in the planning of future research or guidance. Methods Inclusion criteria: Adult patients with any disease process, including, but not limited to: Respiratory conditions; Critically ill patients; Neurological conditions; Prehabilitation prior to and following surgery; Heart failure, published between 2013 to 2025 in the following databases: AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Blinded screening of titles and abstracts were conducted by two reviewers. After exclusion of articles, data was extracted from full text articles by one reviewer. Results The search yielded 4168 articles. Following duplicate extraction and screening, 355 articles were included in this review. Patient populations included: neurological conditions (n=87), chronic and other respiratory conditions (n=89), surgery (n=86), heart failure (n=43), intensive care (n=34), and other (n=16). There was significant variability in IMT regimes within and between patient populations. IMT improves measures of respiratory strength and pulmonary function in a majority of studies, however, there is inconsistent evidence suggesting it can improve clinically relevant outcome measures. Conclusion This review highlights the need for optimisation of the IMT stimulus, along with well conducted trials with clinically relevant outcome measures in specific patient populations. Given the current breadth of evidence, and variability in IMT regimes,",

keywords = "Inspiratory Muscle Training, Intensive care, COPD, Heart Failure, Stroke, Parkinsons, Surgery",

author = "Jenkins, \{Timothy O\} and Laura Boyd and Emily Case and Allaina Eden and Jo Hardy and Molly Hashmi-Greenwood and Mansell, \{Stephanie K\} and Ciara McGurn and Laura McGarrigle and Catherine Sandsund and Amanda Thomas and Lauren Bell and Agnieszka Lewko",

note = "Published in Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care. The final published version is available via DOI: 10.56792/LZCL9680. This journal is published as an open access title by ACPRC",

year = "2026",

month = jul,

day = "30",

doi = "10.56792/LZCL9680",

language = "English",

volume = "1",

pages = "30--40",

journal = "Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care ",

issn = "2978-2376",

publisher = "Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (A C P R C)",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) for clinical adult populations

T2 - an Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) Evidence and Guidance Group scoping review.

AU - Jenkins, Timothy O

AU - Boyd, Laura

AU - Case, Emily

AU - Eden, Allaina

AU - Hardy, Jo

AU - Hashmi-Greenwood , Molly

AU - Mansell, Stephanie K

AU - McGurn, Ciara

AU - McGarrigle, Laura

AU - Sandsund, Catherine

AU - Thomas, Amanda

AU - Bell, Lauren

AU - Lewko, Agnieszka

N1 - Published in Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care. The final published version is available via DOI: 10.56792/LZCL9680. This journal is published as an open access title by ACPRC

PY - 2026/7/30

Y1 - 2026/7/30

N2 - Background Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) aims to improve the strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles and clinical outcomes. Although widely studied, no scoping review has comprehensively investigated the extent, range and nature of literature investigating IMT in a range of clinical populations. IMT was identified as a priority area for review by members of The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC). Objectives The objectives of this scoping review were to: (1) explore the methodological characteristics of IMT in clinical populations, (2) report main study results by patient population, (3) identify research gaps or limitations in the literature to aid in the planning of future research or guidance. Methods Inclusion criteria: Adult patients with any disease process, including, but not limited to: Respiratory conditions; Critically ill patients; Neurological conditions; Prehabilitation prior to and following surgery; Heart failure, published between 2013 to 2025 in the following databases: AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Blinded screening of titles and abstracts were conducted by two reviewers. After exclusion of articles, data was extracted from full text articles by one reviewer. Results The search yielded 4168 articles. Following duplicate extraction and screening, 355 articles were included in this review. Patient populations included: neurological conditions (n=87), chronic and other respiratory conditions (n=89), surgery (n=86), heart failure (n=43), intensive care (n=34), and other (n=16). There was significant variability in IMT regimes within and between patient populations. IMT improves measures of respiratory strength and pulmonary function in a majority of studies, however, there is inconsistent evidence suggesting it can improve clinically relevant outcome measures. Conclusion This review highlights the need for optimisation of the IMT stimulus, along with well conducted trials with clinically relevant outcome measures in specific patient populations. Given the current breadth of evidence, and variability in IMT regimes,

AB - Background Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) aims to improve the strength and endurance of the inspiratory muscles and clinical outcomes. Although widely studied, no scoping review has comprehensively investigated the extent, range and nature of literature investigating IMT in a range of clinical populations. IMT was identified as a priority area for review by members of The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC). Objectives The objectives of this scoping review were to: (1) explore the methodological characteristics of IMT in clinical populations, (2) report main study results by patient population, (3) identify research gaps or limitations in the literature to aid in the planning of future research or guidance. Methods Inclusion criteria: Adult patients with any disease process, including, but not limited to: Respiratory conditions; Critically ill patients; Neurological conditions; Prehabilitation prior to and following surgery; Heart failure, published between 2013 to 2025 in the following databases: AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. Blinded screening of titles and abstracts were conducted by two reviewers. After exclusion of articles, data was extracted from full text articles by one reviewer. Results The search yielded 4168 articles. Following duplicate extraction and screening, 355 articles were included in this review. Patient populations included: neurological conditions (n=87), chronic and other respiratory conditions (n=89), surgery (n=86), heart failure (n=43), intensive care (n=34), and other (n=16). There was significant variability in IMT regimes within and between patient populations. IMT improves measures of respiratory strength and pulmonary function in a majority of studies, however, there is inconsistent evidence suggesting it can improve clinically relevant outcome measures. Conclusion This review highlights the need for optimisation of the IMT stimulus, along with well conducted trials with clinically relevant outcome measures in specific patient populations. Given the current breadth of evidence, and variability in IMT regimes,

KW - Inspiratory Muscle Training

KW - Intensive care

KW - COPD

KW - Heart Failure

KW - Stroke

KW - Parkinsons

KW - Surgery

UR - https://www.acprc.org.uk/physiotherapy-in-respiratory-care/editions/phys-resp-care-volume-1-1/inspiratory-muscle-training-imt-for-clinical-adult-populations-an-association-of-chartered-physiotherapists-in-respiratory-care-acprc-evidence-and-guidance-group-scoping-review/

U2 - 10.56792/LZCL9680

DO - 10.56792/LZCL9680

M3 - Review article

SN - 2978-2376

VL - 1

SP - 30

EP - 40

JO - Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care

JF - Physiotherapy in Respiratory Care

IS - 1

ER -