Are breathing exercises an effective strategy for people with asthma?
BACKGROUND
The effect of breathing techniques on asthma symptoms and disease control is uncertain.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether physiotherapist-taught breathing exercises can improve asthma control and reduce the condition's impact on patients' quality of life.


METHODS
A randomised controlled trial comparing breathing training with asthma education (control for non-specific effects of healthcare professionals' attention) was carried out.


RESULTS
One month after the intervention, both groups showed similar improvements in asthma quality-of-life questionnaire scores but, at six months, there was a significant difference between groups in favour of breathing training. There was also a significant difference in anxiety and depression scores in favour of breathing training at six months.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that adult patients with asthma who were taught breathing exercises showed improvements in quality of life, symptoms and psychological well-being after six months. Breathing exercises may have a role in helping the many people treated for asthma in general practice who have symptoms despite inhaled treatment.
Thomas
Mike
M
Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University of Aberdeen.
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome