Efficacy of breathing retraining program on bedside assessment of pulmonary function

Abstract

Breathing retraining alters respiratory muscle recruitment and improves respiratory muscle performance. However, the effectiveness of Pursed Lip Breathing in reducing dyspnoea is controversial.  The aims of this study are to determine if breathing retraining is influencing the Single Breath Count performed by dyspneic subjects and to assess the correlation between Single breath Count Test and Snider match test as the standard measures of bedside pulmonary function test in patients with dyspnoea. 100 Patients with dyspnoea were assessed in the baseline with snider match test and they were asked to perform a single breath count. 5 times weekly and for 4 weeks, the participants have been practicing Breathing Retraining. Pursed lip breathing (PLB) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) are breathing retraining strategies to subjects with dyspnoea; Single Breath Count was measured by asking patients to take a deep breath and count as far as possible in their normal speaking voice without taking another breath. Counting was timed to a metronome set at 2 counts per second. Snider match test was conducted by blowing the matches at increasing the test distance from 3, 6, 9 inches. The result of this study will determine whether breathing retraining is safe and beneficial for people with dyspnoea.