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Review
. 2024 Jun;15(3):337-347.
doi: 10.14740/wjon1781. Epub 2024 Apr 11.

Potential Therapeutic Role of Respiratory Muscle Training in Dyspnea Management of Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review

Baruch Vainshelboim  1 , Sagar D Sardesai  1 , Dharini Bhammar  1
Affiliations
Review

Potential Therapeutic Role of Respiratory Muscle Training in Dyspnea Management of Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review

Baruch Vainshelboim et al. World J Oncol. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Dyspnea is a disabling symptom presented in approximately half of all cancer survivors. From a clinical perspective, despite the availability of pharmacotherapies, evidence-based effective treatments are limited for relieving dyspnea in cancer survivors. Preliminary evidence supports the potential of respiratory muscle training to reduce dyspnea in cancer survivors, although large randomized controlled studies are warranted. The aims of this article were to review the relevant scientific literature on the potential therapeutic role of respiratory muscle training in dyspnea management of cancer survivor, and to identify possible mechanisms, strengths and limitations of the evidence as well as important gaps for future research directions.

Keywords: Breathlessness; Cancer survivorship; Exercise therapy; Inspiratory muscle training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they do not have a conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram of literature search and studies selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mechanisms of dyspnea in cancer and the potential therapeutic role of respiratory muscles training for dyspnea management.
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