title: Comparison of the effects of Buteyko and pranayama breathing techniques on quality of life in patients with asthma - a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) with a control group in patients with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty subjects were randomized to three groups through block randomization. Subjects with an Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score <5.5 participated in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient pulmonary medicine department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects in the Buteyko and pranayama groups were trained for 3-5 days and instructed to practise the exercises for 15 minutes twice daily, and for three months duration. The control group underwent routine pharmacological management during the study period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, Asthma Control Questionnaire and pulmonary function test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline characteristics were similar in all three groups. Post intervention, the Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement (mean (95% confidence interval), P-value) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score than the pranayama (0.47 (-0.008-0.95), P = 0.056) and control groups (0.97 (0.48-1.46), P = 0.0001). In comparison between the pranayama and control groups, pranayama showed significant improvement (0.50 (0.01-0.98), P = 0.042) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement in quality of life and asthma control than the group performing the pranayama breathing exercise.
authors: Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India. prem.v@manipal.edu
authors: Venkatesan
authors: V
authors: Prem
authors: Ramesh Chandra
authors: RC
authors: Sahoo
authors: Prabha
authors: P
authors: Adhikari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents