Participants will be asked to perform inspiratory muscle training (breathing exercise) 5 days per week for 6 weeks at home.

Inspiratory muscle training will be performed using the POWERbreathe Plus IMT (POWERbreathe International Ltd., Warwickshire, UK), a commercially available inspiratory pressure threshold device. In this type of training, airflow is occluded until the generated inspiratory pressure reaches the predetermined threshold, which can be set at increments of 8 cm H2O.

During the first week of training, the target intensity will be set at 50% of baseline maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP.) During the second week, the target intensity will be set at 60% of baseline MIP. Beginning at the third week and for the remainder of the training program, the target intensity will be set at 75% of the participant's baseline MIP. The target volume will be 5 sets of 6 breaths per day (total of 30 breaths per day), separated by 1-minute rest breaks between sets. The frequency of training will be 5 days per week, for a duration of 6 weeks.

Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the 6-week inspiratory muscle training protocol

Number of sets and repetitions of training breaths completed during the 6-week inspiratory muscle training protocol

Maximal pressure generated during an inspiratory maneuver, representing inspiratory muscle strength

Maximal distance walked in 6 minutes