title: Influence of respiratory biofeedback associated to re-expansive ventilation patterns in individuals with functional mouth breathing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess the effect of re-expansive respiratory patterns associated to respiratory biofeedback (RBF) on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and habits in individuals with functional mouth breathing (FMB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty children with FMB were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was submitted to 15 sessions of re-expansive respiratory patterns associated to RBF (biofeedback pletsmovent; MICROHARD((R)) V1.0), which provided biofeedback of the thoracic and abdominal movements. The control group was submitted to 15 sessions using biofeedback alone. Spirometry, maximum static respiratory pressure measurements and questions regarding habits (answered by parents/guardians) were carried out before and after therapy. The Student's t-test for paired data and non-parametric tests were employed for statistical analysis at a 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes were found in forced vital capacity, Tiffeneau index scores, maximum expiratory pressure, maximum inspiratory pressure and habits assessed in FMB with the use of RBF associated to the re-expansive patterns. No significant differences were found comparing the experimental and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results allow the conclusion that RBF associated to re-expansive patterns improves forced vital capacity, Tiffeneau index scores, respiratory muscle strength and habits in FMB and can therefore be used as a form of therapy for such individuals.
authors.affiliation: Doctor in Clinical Emergency, Medicine Faculty, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliane de Fáveri F
authors.initials: Ede F
authors.lastname: Barbiero
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos Marques
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Vanderlei
authors.forename: Augusto Scalabrini
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Patrícia C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000628:therapy*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity