Effect of Video Assisted Versus Traditional method of training diaphragmatic breathing exercise on single breath count and chest expansion in patients with Pulmonary Disease: A Comparative study.

Breathing exercise forms an essential part of rehabilitation of patients with primary pulmonary disease. Most patients with pulmonary dysfunctions have altered breathing pattern with use of accessory muscles. They need correct training of recruitment of respiratory muscles, primarily diaphragm. A correct technique of doing Breathing exercise improves ventilation and pulmonary function. Traditionally breathing training program is given to the patients by face to face method with regular follow-ups or visits after 2 weeks.

With evolution of era and technology, we all are familiar with screen devices like smartphones and all others. The pandemic has brought in online consultations and tele-rehabilitation. Use of tele-rehabilitation requires constant online time, connectivity and manpower. Use of pre-recorded video in training would be flexible and not need connectivity or manpower. It is essential to see the effectiveness of using such technology in treatment purpose when compared with traditional method. As this Diaphragmatic breathing exercise is the preliminary breathing exercise, this study aimed to compare the effect of video assisted versus traditional method of training diaphragmatic breathing exercise on single breath count and chest expansion in patients with Pulmonary Disease.

Effect on Pulmonary function variables such as single breath count (SBC), Chest expansion(upper chest expansion at T5 and Lower chest expansion at T10) were measured and data was compared among video assisted training and traditional breathing training. Patients having diagnosis of primary pulmonary disease, age between 18-60, having screen device which has facility to watch video and those who were referred to physiotherapy for breathing exercise for 1st time were included. Pre-treatment parameters such as single breath count and chest expansion(upper chest & lower chest) were taken. Then among these patients, individuals were selected randomly using blinded envelop method to whom either traditional breathing retraining was taught or video assisted breathing was taught. Patients were advised to practice taught technique at home 3 times a day regularly for 2 weeks period and further during their routine follow up after 2 weeks, re-assessment was done using SBC, chest expansion(upper chest & lower chest). Objective data was collected for both these methods, both traditional and video assisted group generated statistically significant results on SBC and chest expansion (p<0.0001). There was no difference between two methods of training on SBC(p=0.2428), upper chest expansion(0.6995) and lower chest expansion(p=0.1810). in this trial, it is concluded that both methods were found to be equally beneficial in improving pulmonary functions in patients with pulmonary disease after 2 weeks of training.