Research on the Impact of Breathing Exercises and Aerobic Exercises on Quality of Life in Patients with Bronchial Asthma: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory disorder of airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction causing cough, wheeze, chest tightness and shortness of breath Crompton et al7Asthmatic attacks are set up by exposure to specific allergens such as house dust mite, pollen and animal dander. Some other factors are exercise particularly running, dyes, air pollution, infection, cigarette smoke, dry inhaled air, certain foods such as fish, eggs, yeast, and wheat which presumably reach the bronchi via blood stream. There is noticeable increase in healthcare burden from asthma in several areas of world .The most frequently mentioned aims of breathing exercises are to ‘normalize’ breathing pattern by adopting a slower respiratory rate with longer expiration and reduction of hyperventilation and hyperinflation. Training also frequently involves encouraging nasal breathing and a diaphragmatic breathing pattern.AQLQ AND SF36 questionnaire was used as outcome measure.Methods: The sample size of this study was 30 subjects with 15 subjects in each group. The group A was given breathing exercises interventions and group B was given aerobic exercises intervention. A written consent was taken from each before their participation into the study. Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and SF-36 quality of life Questionnaire of both the groups were taken in 0 week and both groups were assigned treatment interventions and after 3 weeks the AQLQ and SF-36 quality of life questionnaire has been repeated.The independent variables in the study were Aerobic Exercises and Breathing Exercises.Conclusion: The breathing exercise intervention was effective in improving the quality of life in asthmatic patients.The aerobic exercise intervention was also effective in improving the quality of life in asthmatic patients.However, the quantum of reduction in lung obstruction and therefore, the overall improvement in quality of life found to be more significant with the aerobic exercise intervention than breathing exercise intervention. Thus,a combination of the breathing exercises and aerobic exercise should be incorporated into the pulmonary rehabilitation program of the asthmatic patients.