Effects of Breathing Exercises With and Without Inspiratory Muscle Training in COPD Patients

Summary

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major health issue that affects a large proportion of the population, especially those over 50 years old. It is characterized by breathlessness and reduced lung function. It has been hypothesized that practicing specific breathing exercises could potentially alleviate these symptoms and enhance lung volumes and capacities. In addition, there is a lack of clarity on the effects of inspiratory muscle training along with these breathing exercises, warranting further investigation. To determine the effects of breathing exercises with and without inspiratory muscle training on dyspnea, lung volumes and lung capacities in COPD patients. A total of 46 patients, aged over 50, will be enrolled from National Hospital and medical center, Lahore and Ittefaq Hospital, Lahore. These patients will be randomly divided into two groups A and B: the first group will be assigned to perform only diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing exercises daily for 2 months. In contrast, the second group will also receive breather, which will involve inhaling through a mouthpiece with variable resistance and using breath-holding techniques. The trial will follow strict ethical guidelines, with all participants providing informed consent. Outcomes will be measured through pulmonary function tests and the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale. The study will also obtain the necessary approval from the respective ethical committees of the participating institutions. The data will be analyzed in SPSS 26.0.

Conditions

• COPD

Interventions

OTHER

BREATHING EXERCISE

Participants will be guided to adopt a deep breathing practice by emphasizing the use of the diaphragm muscle, thereby minimizing the contribution of accessory muscles during inspiration. This approach fosters the efficiency of respiratory mechanics, aiding in the mitigation of dyspnea symptoms. Participants are directed to undertake these exercises 2-3 times per day, dedicating 15-20 minutes per session, consistently over a period of 2 months. Pursed-Lip Breathing .This technique involves exhaling through semi-closed lips, creating a resistance that helps control the rate of exhalation and, thus, optimizes lung volumes and capacities. This exercise is recommended to be performed similarly to diaphragmatic breathing, 2-3 times daily for 15- 20 minutes per session for a period of 2 months

OTHER

BREATHING EXERCISE REGIMEN COUPLED WITH BREATHER DEVICE

The resistance on the BREATHER device will be adjusted to match each participant's abilities and progression. The resistance level will be challenging yet manageable, ensuring participant comfort. Each daily session will consist of 15-30 minutes with the BREATHER device and can be split into two shorter sessions if necessary. The total duration of this treatment protocol will span 2 months. The BREATHER device will be employed for both inspiratory and expiratory muscle training. Alongside the device usage, specific breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing, will be performed

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sidra Afzal, PP-DPT · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-15

Primary Completion

2024-11-15

Completion

2024-12-15

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations