Inspiratory Strength Training (IST)

This is an interventional study that will test whether a breathing exercise called Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training (IMST) can safely and effectively lower blood pressure during late pregnancy. The goal is to see if a home-based breathing training can help prevent or reduce high blood pressure disorders in pregnancy. The main objectives are to make sure the training is safe and tolerable for pregnant women and to examine blood pressure and blood vessel health. Participants in their third trimester will be randomly assigned to either do moderate resistance IMST or a minimal resistance sham IMST, for 5 to 8 minutes a day over six weeks.

The goal of this research study is to evaluate the effects of a single session of rehabilitation in healthy adults, before noninvasive mechanical ventilation (MV). MV can help support breathing function during sleep or illness. High levels of MV support have been reported to alter the function of the diaphragm muscle, the primary breathing muscle, in people with compromised health. However, rehabilitation may have some potential to improve diaphragm function in advance of using MV. This study will test different rehabilitation interventions, including (1) inspiratory strength training (IST), (2) transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS), or sham TSCS. Before and after MV, participants will complete breathing strength tests and responses to phrenic nerve stimulation.