Impact of Customized Respiratory Training on Cardiopulmonary Function in Parkison's Disease

Testers will complete the following outcome measures at the pretest: height, weight, maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, six-minute walk test, and Fatigue Impact Scale in person.17,18 Participants, and caregivers if necessary, will be educated on how to complete the intensive IMT program. The dosage will be IMT 3 times/day for 20 repetitions each with resistance set at 30% of baseline maximum for 12 weeks. This training will occur at home. Participants will record daily their completion of the intensive IMT. Investigators will contact participants weekly for follow-up of compliance and questions. Participants will be contacted either through email, text, or phone call, depending on their preference. After 12 weeks of intensive IMT training, the investigators will complete the first posttest which will include the following assessments: maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, six-minute walk test, and fatiguability scale in person. Participants, and caregivers if necessary, will be educated on the maintenance IMT program. The dosage for the maintenance program will be 33% of their intensive IMT program, which will result in IMT 1 time/day for 20 repetitions with resistance set at 30% of baseline maximum at the first posttest. The participants will continue the maintenance program for 12 more weeks. Participants will record daily their completion of the maintenance IMT program. Investigators will contact participants weekly for follow-up of compliance and questions. Participants will be contacted either through email, text, or phone call, depending on their preference. After the 12 weeks of maintenance IMT, the investigators will complete the second posttest which will include the following assessments: maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, six-minute walk test, and fatiguability scale in person. The participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card upon the completion of second posttest. The participants will also be allowed to keep their IMT devices for continued use.