Inspiratory Muscle Training Post-Liver Transplant

Individuals with chronic liver disease develop significant muscle wasting that remains post-liver transplant. The transplant surgery additionally challenges respiratory mechanics. Respiratory muscle strength has been measured to be impaired in individuals post liver transplant. This study proposes an 8 week intervention designed to increase respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function that we hypothesize will correlate to improved functional performance and quality of life post-liver transplant. Pre-test post-test design, that will randomize subjects into an experimental group that will receive the inspiratory muscle strengthening exercise in addition to usual post-liver transplant care and a control group that will only receive the usual post-transplant care. Up to 50 subjects will be recruited from the Post-Liver Transplant Outpatient Clinic at the Miami Transplant Institute. The subjects will have repeated measurements of respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, functional mobility performance, and quality of life at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.