Effectiveness of Retrained Breathing Programme and Papworth Breathing Technique on Cardiorespiratory Adaptations in Bronchial Asthma patients: A randomized controlled study
Bronchial asthma, Breathing retraining, Papworth technique, Physiotherapy, Pulse rate, Diastolic Blood pressure, Systolic blood pressure, Peak expiratory flow rate, Cardiorespiratory adaptation
AuthorsABSTRACTBackground: Despite the various advancements in pharmacological approaches, bronchial asthma still continues to be one of the serious global health issues. In recent times, the retrained breathing techniques have been found to be of great interest to bronchial asthma patients for the management of their symptoms and imsproving their quality of life. Apart from respiratory impairment, asthma can influence cardiovascular parameters such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate due to increased sympathetic activity and respiratory distress. Breathing retraining techniques have been proposed as effective adjunctive interventions to improve cardiorespiratory function and autonomic balance in individuals with asthma. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a physiotherapy-based retrained breathing programme on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate in patients with bronchial asthma and to compare its effects with the Papworth breathing technique. Methodology: An experimental study was conducted among 170 patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma. Participants were randomly allocated into an intervention group receiving the Retrained Breathing Programme (n=87) and a control group receiving the Papworth Breathing Technique (n=83). Both groups continued their prescribed medications throughout the study period. The interventions were administered for 30 days. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured using standard clinical procedures at baseline (Day 1), mid-intervention (Day 15), and postintervention (Day 30). Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests, independent t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA and Cohen’D test. Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in systolic blood pressure and pulse rate following the retrained breathing programme compared to the control group (p<0.05). The post-intervention pulse rate was 82.72±4.27 bpm in the Breathing Retraining Programme group and 82.30±4.40 bpm in the Papworth Breathing Technique group. 82 Repeated measures analysis revealed significant effects of time and group interaction for systolic blood pressure and pulse rate. The post-treatment systolic blood pressure was 131.94±9.02 mmHg and 133.53±8.80 mmHg, respectively, while the diastolic blood pressure was 81.49±2.44 mmHg and 81.74±3.78 mmHg, respectively. Although diastolic blood pressure showed improvement over the intervention period, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The physiotherapy-based retrained breathing programme is effective in improving systolic blood pressure and pulse rate among patients •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ejprd.org - Published by Dennis Barber Journals.
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