December 05, 2024 | Virtual Event
Shikha Sharma
Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research , India
Shikha Sharma is an accomplished cardiorespiratory physiotherapist based in New Delhi, India, with a passion for advancing healthcare in the realm of chronic respiratory conditions. She completed her Master of Physiotherapy (MPT) with a specialization in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy in 2024. Her thesis, titled “Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Exercise Capacity, Dyspnea, and Cardiac Autonomic Function in Individuals with COPD,” showcases her deep interest in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pulmonary rehabilitation, inspiratory muscle training, heart rate variability, and exercise prescription. Shikha’s academic journey has been marked by exceptional national and international achievements. She earned widespread recognition for her research presentations at the Rehabilitation Research Colloquium in McGill, Ontario, and various International Physiotherapy Conferences. With an unwavering commitment to furthering her expertise, she plans to pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the field of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, with the goal of contributing to cutting-edge research and improved clinical practices for patients with chronic pulmonary conditions.
Background: The American Thoracic Society (ATS) documented chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as a preventable and treatable respiratory disease. Its prevalence has increased globally making it the third leading cause of death. According to a meta-analysis, there is a 6.5%-7.7% prevalence of COPD in India. Among non-pharmacological strategies, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is the most beneficial treatment strategy. Even after the proven efficacy of PR, it remains underused across the globe. In developed nations, the estimated availability of the program is around 50%. In India, it is even poor. Purpose: The primary and secondary objectives are to study the added effect of IMT in PR on CAF, exercise capacity, and dyspnea respectively in individuals with COPD. Methods: This study is a single-blinded, parallel, two-group RCT. A total of 36 participants with diagnosed COPD were recruited based on the inclusion criteria from the Public healthcare institution in India. Participants were randomly allocated using the 1:1 allocation ratio to one of the two groups: The experimental group (Group A) and the Control group (Group B). Group A performed IMT via threshold resistance IMT device with resistance ≥30% PImax and conventional PR. Group B performed IMT with resistance
