To explore the effect of respiratory muscle endurance training on the blood pressure, lung function, respiratory muscle strength and motor capacity of persons with hypertension.

Sixty persons with essential hypertension were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 30. The experimental group received 8 weeks of inspiratory resistance training with an intensity of 55% of their maximum inspiratory air pressure (MIP) while the control group had an intensity of 10% MIP with the other training conditions the same as those of the experimental group. Both groups practiced 30 times as a set, two sets a day, 4 days a week. Blood pressure, lung function and respiratory muscle strength were measured before and after the intervention, and motor capacity was measured using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT).

After the intervention, the average MIP of the experimental group had increased significantly (to 123.6±13.9 from 83.5±9.8cmH₂O). The average 6MWT time of the experimental group had also improved significantly, but there were no significant differences in any of the control group observations.

Eight weeks of respiratory muscle endurance training can improve the inspiratory muscle strength and motor capacity of patients with essential hypertension, but it has no effect on blood pressure or lung functioning.

Respiratory muscles; Endurance training; Hypertension; Lung function; Respiratory muscle strength; Motor capacity