Comparison of Buteyko Technique and Pursed Lip Breathing in Asthma

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Asthma
• Interventions: Other: Pursed lip breathing; Other: Buteyko Breathing exercises

• Registration Number: NCT04310696
• Lead Sponsor: Riphah International University

Brief Summary

The objective of the study was to compare the effects of Buteyko breathing technique and pursed lip breathing technique in the management of asthma. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 asthmatic patients randomly allocated to Buteyko technique group and pursed lip breathing group. Both the groups received 4 weeks of treatment, 3 times per week. Data was collected at base line, 2nd week and 4th week. Outcome measurements included FVC, FEV, PEFR and Asthma Control Test Questionnaire scores. Data analysis was carried out on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v.21.0. Confidence interval was kept at 95% and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Detailed Description

Asthma is an inflammatory condition in which narrowing and swelling of the airways occur, accompanied with extra mucus production. This results in difficulty in breathing and triggers coughing, wheezing and dyspnea. In some cases asthma is a minor irritation, but on the other end of the spectrum it may interfered with activities of daily living and can even become life threatening in severe asthma attacks. According to a study conducted in Pakistan, the prevalence of asthma in adults was found to be 10.8% in adults, working in tanneries with 5.3% of them reporting their symptoms to be work related.

Non-pharmacological management of asthma includes patient education, guidance and physiotherapy. It is suggested that physical therapy may have positive effects in patients with asthma, as they possess dysfunctional breathing patterns accompanied with poor physical condition. Numerous reviews by Cochrane have been published in the recent years regarding the effects of physical therapy in patients with asthma, focusing on the effects of numerous techniques including Alexander technique, manual therapy, physical training, breathing exercises and inspiratory muscle training. In terms of specific effects of different physical therapy treatment techniques in patients with asthma, in light of the existing literature, breathing exercises have found to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and hyperventilation, and decrease respiratory rate and medication use. Moreover, inspiratory muscle training is found to improve symptoms, decrease medication use and also improve inspiratory pressure.

Buteyko technique is a specialized breathing technique developed to reduce chronic hyperinflation.

A pre and post design quasi experimental study conducted was conducted in 2014 to determine the effects of Buteyko breathing technique on asthma control and QOL in school aged children with asthma where Buteyko breathing technique group showed significant improvements terms of asthma control and quality of life.

Based upon the review of the literature, evidence is inadequate in terms of comparison of Buteyko breathing technique with pursed lip breathing technique in the management of patients with asthma except for a single randomized controlled trial. For this reason the purpose of the current study is to compare the effects of Buteyko technique with pursed lip breathing in the management of patients with asthma.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2018-08-30
• Primary Completion: 2019-02-15
• Study Completion: 2019-08-20
• Status Verified: 2020-03
• Study First Submitted: 2020-03-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-03-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-03-12
• Study First Posted: 2020-03-17
• Last Update Posted: 2020-03-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients categorized as mild to moderate persistent asthma category according to the "National Asthma Education and Prevention Program"

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Exclusion Criteria

• Use of oral steroids within the four-week run-in period,
• Change in inhaled steroid dose and type,
• Other significant unstable medical conditions,
• They have undertaken Buteyko breathing technique previously.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Pursed lip breathing	Pursed lip breathing	Pursed lip breathing exercises
Buteyko group	Buteyko Breathing exercises	Buteyko breathing exercises

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1)	After 4 weeks of intervention	Forced expiratory volume in 1sec (FEV1) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FEV1 is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal.
Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)	After 4 weeks of intervention	Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) measured through digital spirometer. Three zones of measurement are commonly used to interpret peak flow rates. Normal value of PEFR is (80-100%). Green zone indicates 80 to 100 percent of the usual or normal peak flow reading, yellow zone indicates 50 to 79 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings, and red zone indicates less than 50 percent of the usual or normal peak flow readings.
Forced vital capacity (FVC)	After 4 weeks of intervention	Forced vital capacity (FVC) measured through digital spirometer. If the value of FVC is within 80% of the reference value, the results are considered normal.
FVC/FEV1	After 4 weeks of intervention	FVC/FEV1 measured through digital spirometer. The normal value for the FEV1/FVC ratio is 70% (and 65% in persons older than age 65).
Asthma Control Questionnaire	After 4 weeks of intervention	Asthma Control questionnaire is a self-reported subjective outcome measurement tool that is used to measure the sufficiency of asthma symptom control and changes in asthma symptoms. It is 5 point scale with scores ranging from 0 to 5 for each item. The greater the score of Asthma Control questionnaire, the better the prognosis and outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Riphah International University; 🇵🇰 Islamabad, Federal, Pakistan