Researcher Short breathing training in asthma relieves discomfort

Respiratory training in asthma can relieve discomfort
Breathing exercises are increasingly playing an important role in guidelines when it comes to the concomitant therapy of asthma patients. Breathing exercises help reduce the frequency of disease-specific symptoms. To increase patient compliance, scientists designed a simple respiratory training routine that can be done in everyday routine without a lot of time.

The individual modules of the training model consist of breathing exercises such as Viloma Pranayama, a breathing technique from yoga, exercises with a focus on the diaphragmatic breathing and breathing exercises with lip brakes (exhalation against closed lips).

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The researchers investigated the efficiency, acceptability, everyday fitness and complexity of performing this breathing exercise in 74 patients, ages 18-65, with ongoing bronchial asthma. All study participants received an introduction to the three breathing exercises at the beginning of the study as well as a booklet with which they were able to perform the exercises independently at home. For one month, subjects were required to complete respiratory training twice a day with five repetitions of each breathing exercise. They should keep taking their asthma medication.

The results of 68 patients could be evaluated at the end. It was found that 64% of the participants performed breath training three or more times a week. 80% of the subjects spent less than ten minutes per day on the exercises. Participants rated the complexity of each exercise using a scale from 1 (very easy) to 5 (very difficult). 42,6% rated the Viloma pranayama, 45,5% the diaphragm breathing as well as 54,5% the breathing exercises with lip brake. The subjects also found it easier to take deep breaths. In addition, their lung capacity and breathing airflow had improved. This was accompanied by an improved quality of life. 66.1% of the participants reported a reduced use of their emergency inhalers during the treatment phase.

Compared to the start of the study, the results of the ACT (Asthma Control Test) resulted in a significant improvement of the symptoms inquired. Source: Carstens Foundation