Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiopulmonary and Geriatrics Disorders

This study aimed to determine the effect of inspiratory muscle training versus slow deep breathing exercise on sympathetic tone in essential hypertensive patients. Forty men with essential hypertension, the mean age was 35 years old with mean BMI was 26.19 kg/m2 which the systolic blood pressure range was (140 - 159 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure range was (90 - 99 mm Hg) participated in this study were selected from the National Heart Institute and other private clinics. They were assigned randomly into two groups equal in number. Participants of the group (A) received inspiratory muscle training program, while the group (B) received slow deep breathing program lasting four weeks. Patients were assessed objectively by mercury sphygmomanometer to measure Blood pressure (BP), vacuum manometer to evaluate maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and 24-Hour Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Recording (Holter) to measure frequency domain component of heart rate variability (HRV). Also patients were assessed subjectively by the hypertension health related quality of life questionnaire (MINICHAL) to evaluate quality of life. The participants were assessed before and after the training program. Results: the statistical analysis revealed that there was a significant improvement in inspiratory muscle training group (A) and slow deep breathing exercise group (B) but the improvement was more significant in favour of group (A) than group (B) as follow: a significant decrease of (SBP) by (7%) and (4.5%), a significant decrease of (DBP) by (5.5 %) and (3 %), a significant increase of (HF of HRV) by (15 %) and (10.5%) , a significant decrease of (LF of HRV) by (15%) and (10%) , a significant decrease of (LF/HF of HRV) by (26%) and (19%), a significant increase of (MIP) by (32%) and (12%) and a significant improvement of quality of life by (84%) and (45.5%) in group (A) and group (B) respectively (p{u02C2}0.05). Conclusions: inspiratory muscle training is more effective than slow deep breathing on modulating sympathetic tone in essential hypertensive patients

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