Buteyko Research Articles

To Study the Effectiveness of Buteyko Breathing Technique Versus Diaphragmatic Breathing in Asthmatics

Background:Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. It is estimated that around 300 million people in the world currently have asthma In Asthmatics dysfunctional breathing pattern is common. Breathing pattern is the basis of abnormal patterns in asthma. The purpose of this study was to find out the effectiveness of Buteyko breathing technique versus diaphragmatic breathing in asthmatics.Methods: 46 patients with asthma aged 20-65 years were taken. The duration of the study was 2 weeks & data was collected on day zero and at the end of 2nd week. The subjects were divided into two groups A & B 23 patients of asthma in each group were distributed by convenient sampling. Each subject was assessed according to FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEFR Statistics were applied by using SPSS 11.Results: Results were calculated by using 0.05 level of significance. On the basis of above statistical analysis the p value for group A is less than 0.05. So the intervention on group A is effective than intervention on group B.Conclusion: So Buteyko breathing technique proves to be more effective than diaphragmatic breathing technique in asthmatics.

Role of Buteyko breathing technique in asthmatics with nasal symptoms

Role of Buteyko breathing technique in asthmatics with nasal symptoms

Effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma

A new dawn is emerging by recognizing that correct breathing volume is fundamental to maintaining good health, the new beginning is based on the life’s work of Russian scientist professor Konstantin Buteyko.The Buteyko breathing technique method as suggested by Professor Buteyko helps to decrease the number and severity of attacks as well as the dosage of medication. As a result of this therapy, the indicators of acid-alkali balance and lung ventilation improved.The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Buteyko breathing technique on patients with bronchial asthma.Forty patients with bronchial asthma participated in this study, their age ranged between 30 and 50years.They were divided into two equal groups, group (A) received Buteyko breathing technique (BBT), and the medications prescribed by the physician, while group, (B) did not perform any physical therapy program just their medications prescribed by the physician. The program continued for 6weeks (2 sessions per week except the 1st week was 4 sessions per week). Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), Control pause test and asthma daily symptoms (asthma control questionnaire) were measured at the beginning and after the treatment program for both groups. The results of this studyrevealed a significant decrease in asthma daily symptoms, a significant improvement in PEFR, and Control pause test in group (A), while there was insignificant change in group (B).It can be concluded that BBT produce a significant improvement for patients with bronchial asthma as regard daily symptoms, PEFR and Control pause test.

Comparison of the effects of Buteyko and pranayama breathing techniques on quality of life in patients with asthma – a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To compare two breathing exercises (Buteyko and pranayama) with a control group in patients with asthma. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Subjects: One hundred and twenty subjects were randomized to three groups through block randomization. Subjects with an Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score <5.5 participated in the study. Setting: Outpatient pulmonary medicine department. Interventions: Subjects in the Buteyko and pranayama groups were trained for 3–5 days and instructed to practise the exercises for 15 minutes twice daily, and for three months duration. The control group underwent routine pharmacological management during the study period. Outcome measures: Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, Asthma Control Questionnaire and pulmonary function test. Results: The baseline characteristics were similar in all three groups. Post intervention, the Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement (mean (95% confidence interval), P-value) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score than the pranayama (0.47 (–0.008–0.95), P = 0.056) and control groups (0.97 (0.48–1.46), P = 0.0001). In comparison between the pranayama and control groups, pranayama showed significant improvement (0.50 (0.01–0.98), P = 0.042) in total Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score. Conclusion: The Buteyko group showed better trends of improvement in quality of life and asthma control than the group performing the pranayama breathing exercise.

Systematic review of the effectiveness of breathing retraining in asthma management

In asthma management, complementary and alternative medicine is enjoying a growing popularity worldwide. This review synthesizes the literature on complementary and alternative medicine techniques that utilize breathing retraining as their primary component and compares evidence from controlled trials with before-and-after trials. Medline, PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Library electronic databases were searched. Reference lists of all publications were manually checked to identify studies not found through electronic searching. The selection criteria were met by 41 articles. Most randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the Buteyko breathing technique demonstrated a significant decrease in β2-agonist use while several found improvement in quality of life or decrease in inhaled corticosteroid use. Although few in number, RCTs of respiratory muscle training found a significant reduction in bronchodilator medication use. Where meta-analyses could be done, they provided evidence of benefit from yoga, Buteyko breathing technique and physiotherapist-led breathing training in improving asthma-related quality of life. However, considerable heterogeneity was noted in some RCTs of yoga. It is reasonable for clinicians to offer qualified support to patients with asthma undertaking these breathing retraining techniques.

Nonspecific mechanisms that enhance well-being in health-promoting behaviors.

We tested whether the nonspecific or placebo enhancement of well-being brought about by a health-promoting behavior was due to expectancy having an unmediated effect on outcome (response expectancy theory) or because expectancy was mediated through the behavioral and affective consequences of positively valued goal satisfaction (motivational concordance theory). Fifty-seven participants completed a breathing exercise (a simplified Buteyko technique) purporting to enhance well-being over a period of 4 days. Participants were randomized to receive either easy or difficult task instructions. Expectancy was measured at baseline and perceived effort (as an indicator of motivation) and adherence were measured at follow-up. Well-being was measured by perceived change in well-being at follow-up and by change in the Positive and Negative Affect Scale between baseline and follow-up. Expectancy (r = .42), adherence (r = .57), and effort (r = .90) correlated with perceived benefit. Multiple regression and mediation analysis showed that effort predicted (p < .01) well-being independently of expectancy for all 3 measures of well-being, and that where expectancy predicted outcome, its effect was mediated by effort. Adherence failed to predict additional variance to outcome compared with effort and expectancy. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that placebo effects in therapeutic contexts are mediated via the affective consequences of performing a motivated ritual.

The Buteyko technique in asthma management

Kathryn Godfrey considers the evidence for the use of Buteyko breathing technique in addition to medications to help patients control asthma symptoms

Effect of mouth taping at night on asthma control – A randomised single-blind crossover study

Nose breathing ensures that inspired air is warm, filtered and moist and may therefore benefit patients with asthma. It features in some complementary approaches to treat asthma and is encouraged at night in the Buteyko technique by the use of mouth taping. In this pragmatic study we sought to determine whether taping the mouth at night has any effect on asthma control compared with usual breathing in patients with symptomatic asthma, since if it was effective it would be a simple intervention to implement. This was a randomised, single-blind, crossover study of participants (n=51) with symptomatic asthma (mean FEV(1) 86% predicted). A 4-week period of usual breathing at night was followed by use of mouth taping with microporous tape, as in the Buteyko technique, or vice versa, with a 2-week run-in period and a minimum 2-week washout period of usual breathing between 'treatments'. Primary outcomes were morning peak expiratory flow and symptom scores (Asthma Control Diary). Outcomes were measured and analysed without knowledge of treatment allocation. Fifty participants completed the study and reported taping their mouth for a median 26 of 28 nights. Although 36 participants said mouth taping was very or fairly acceptable there were no differences between treatments for morning peak expiratory flow (mean difference -1l/min (95%CI, -9 to 7)) or symptoms scores (mean difference -0.12 (95%CI, -0.30 to 0.06)) nor for any secondary measures. Taping the mouth at night had no effect on asthma control in patients with symptomatic asthma.

A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma

A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma

Investigating the Claims of Konstantin Buteyko, M.D., Ph.D.: The Relationship of Breath Holding Time to End Tidal CO2and Other Proposed Measures of Dysfunctional Breathing

Konstantin Buteyko, M.D., Ph.D., claimed that breath holding time (BHT) can be used to detect chronic hyperventilation and that BHT predicts alveolar CO(2) (Pa(CO(2))) according to his patented mathematical formula. The Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) is believed to correct chronic hyperventilation as evidenced by increased BHT. In this study, we test Buteyko's claims and explore the relationship between BHT and end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO(2)) as well as measures of dysfunctional breathing (DB) including the Nijmegen questionnaire, the Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire, and thoracic dominant breathing pattern. Eighty-three (83) adults healthy or suspected of having dysfunctional breathing, 29 with abnormal spirometry readings, 54 with normal spirometry. BHT, performed according to BBT protocols, was measured along with ETCO(2) and other measures of DB including the Nijmegen questionnaire, and manual assessment of respiratory motion, a palpatory technique for measuring thoraco-abdominal balance during breathing. Correlations between measures of DB were made in the whole sample and also in subgroups with normal or abnormal spirometry. DB measures were compared in normal and abnormal spirometry groups. The results revealed a negative correlation between BHT and ETCO(2) (r= -0.241, p<0.05), directly opposite to Buteyko's claims. BHT was significantly shorter in people with abnormal spirometry (FEV(1) or FVC<15% below predicted), with no difference in ETCO(2) levels between the abnormal and normal spirometry groups. In the abnormal spirometry group, lower BHT was found to correlate with a thoracic dominant breathing pattern. (r= -0.408, p<0.028). Although BHT does not predict resting ETCO(2), it does correlate with breathing pattern in subjects with abnormal spirometry. It is proposed that altered breathing pattern could contribute to breathing symptoms such as dyspnea and that breathing therapies such as BBT might influence symptoms by improving the efficiency of the biomechanics of breathing.

A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique as an adjunct to conventional management of asthma

To assess the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological intervention in patients with asthma on conventional therapy including inhaled corticosteroid. A randomised controlled trial of the Buteyko technique in a group of adults with asthma. The control group was trained by a physiotherapist in breathing and relaxation techniques. A single centre associated with a University-based asthma programme. Asthma control, defined by a composite score based on the Canadian asthma consensus report 6 months after completion of the intervention. Both groups showed substantial and similar improvement and a high proportion with asthma control 6 months after completion of the intervention. In the Buteyko group the proportion with asthma control increased from 40% to 79% and in the control group from 44% to 72%. In addition the Buteyko group had significantly reduced their inhaled corticosteroid therapy compared with the control group (p=0.02). None of the other differences between the groups at 6 months were significant. Six months after completion of the interventions, a large majority of subjects in each group displayed control of their asthma with the additional benefit of reduction in inhaled corticosteroid use in the Buteyko group. The Buteyko technique, an established and widely recognised intervention, or an intensive programme delivered by a chest physiotherapist appear to provide additional benefit for adult patients with asthma who are being treated with inhaled corticosteroid.

Complementary therapy use by patients and parents of children with asthma and the implications for NHS care: a qualitative study.

BackgroundPatients are increasingly using complementary therapies, often for chronic conditions. Asthma is the most common chronic condition in the UK. Previous research indicates that some asthma patients experience gaps in their NHS care. However, little attention has been given to how and why patients and parents of children with asthma use complementary therapies and the implications for NHS care.MethodsQualitative study, comprising 50 semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 22 adults and 28 children with asthma (plus a parent), recruited from a range of NHS and non-NHS settings in Bristol, England. Data analysis was thematic, drawing on the principles of constant comparison.ResultsA range of complementary therapies were being used for asthma, most commonly Buteyko breathing and homeopathy. Most use took place outside of the NHS, comprising either self-treatment or consultation with private complementary therapists. Complementary therapies were usually used alongside not instead of conventional asthma treatment. A spectrum of complementary therapy users emerged, including "committed", "pragmatic" and "last resort" users. Motivating factors for complementary therapy use included concerns about conventional NHS care ("push factors") and attractive aspects of complementary therapies ("pull factors"). While participants were often uncertain whether therapies had directly helped their asthma, breathing techniques such as the Buteyko Method were most notably reported to enhance symptom control and enable reduction in medication. Across the range of therapies, the process of seeking and using complementary therapies seemed to help patients in two broad ways: it empowered them to take greater personal control over their condition rather than feel dependant on medication, and enabled exploration of a broader range of possible causes of their asthma than commonly discussed within NHS settings.ConclusionComplementary therapy use reflects patients' and parents' underlying desire for greater self-care and need of opportunities to address some of their concerns regarding NHS asthma care. Self-management of chronic conditions is increasingly promoted within the NHS but with little attention to complementary therapy use as one strategy being used by patients and parents. With their desire for self-help, complementary therapy users are in many ways adopting the healthcare personas that current policies aim to encourage.

Russian revelation

Jill McGowan was convinced that a programme of breathing retraining--the Buteyko Method - could reduce the medication needs of people with asthma. So she gave up her nursing job and sold her house and car to finance research. Training requires five 90-minute sessions. The 30-minute exercise programme has to be repeated six times a day initially. Introduction of the method to the NHS could have a major impact on asthma management with potentially huge savings on cost.

Assessment of the measurement tools of dysfunctional breathing

Introduction Prevalence of dysfunctional breathing (DB) has been claimed to range from 10% 5 to 90%. 1 Currently the clinical assessment of dysfunctional breathing is problematic and there is controversy about the role of hypocapnia and the proposed relationship between symptoms and signs of dysfunctional breathing with CO 2 levels. 3,4 Dysfunctional breathing is being implicated in many conditions commonly seen by osteopaths including fibromyalgia and chronic pain 2 and work related musculo-skeletal problems. 6 In this study we aimed to determine how measurement tools used to predict dysfunctional breathing reflect CO 2 levels and how they correlate with each other. Methods Breathing assessment was performed on 120 adults. Assessment include carbon dioxide measurement via capnometry, breath holding time according to the Buteyko Method protocol, a manual assessment of respiratory motion (MARM), Nijmegen Questionnaire, self-assessment of breathing questionnaire, and Heart Rate Variability coherence with respiration. Various anthropometrical, health outcome and emotional status evaluations were also performed. Results Preliminary results indicate that none of the measures of dysfunctional breathing correlate significantly with CO 2 levels. Claims that breath holding time could accurately predict PCO 2 were not supported. D.B. measures that did show a correlation with each other include respiratory motion balance as tested by MARM and ability to achieve high levels of coherence between respiration and heart rate variability. The self-evaluation of breathing questionnaire showed good correlation with the validated Nijmegen Questionnaire in scores for breathlessness, breathing restriction and breathing pattern disturbance. Conclusions Signs and symptoms of dysfunctional breathing appear to exist even when PCO 2 levels appear normal. Breathing may reflect the function of many systems of the body and a purely biochemical view of breathing dysfunction may be limited. For a complete picture of patients' breathing it is necessary to evaluate the biomechanical aspects of breathing pattern and symptom patterns in addition to the assessment of carbon dioxide.

The Buteyko breathing technique for asthma: A review

Breathing exercises and breathing retraining are often used in the management of asthma. One specific form of breathing therapy, known as the Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) has received considerable attention, but there is a paucity of rigorous research evidence to support its recommendation for asthma patients. There are only four published clinical trials and two conference abstracts evaluating BBT. Although all have reported improvements in one or more outcome measures, results have not been consistent. This article provides the background to the BBT, reviews the available evidence for its use and examines the physiological hypothesis claimed to underpin it. In common with other therapies, BBT is not a standardised treatment modality. The BBT 'package' is complex, as it also includes advice and education about medication use, nutrition and exercise, and general relaxation. This makes it difficult, and possibly inappropriate, to attempt to tease out a single mechanism. Buteyko's theory relating to carbon dioxide levels and airway calibre is an attractive one, and has some basis in evidence from experimental studies. However, it is not known whether altering breathing patterns can raise carbon dioxide levels significantly, and there is currently insufficient evidence to confirm that this is the mechanism behind any effect that BBT may exert. Further research is necessary to establish unequivocally whether BBT is effective, and if so, how it may work.

Buteyko: A useful tool in the management of asthma?

Medical management of asthma focuses on drugs which, although effective, are costly and produce side-effects. Recent evidence suggests a role for breathing interventions that reduce total ventilation, such as the Buteyko method, which has strong similarities to techniques already used by therapists to manage hyperventilation. Both approaches should be made readily available to patients with asthma. Asthma nurses and therapists should consider these techniques to enable patients to ‘step down’ drug treatments in accordance with medical guidelines. This may involve a re-thinking of their role, from one where the main emphasis is on supporting the established medical model towards one that also offers a non-pharmacological alternative. This article explains the aims of Buteyko and discusses the increasing evidence base for methods that reduce ventilation and may benefit many patients with asthma, not just those with established chronic hyperventilation.

An investigation into the health‐related correlates of the control pause measure associated with the Buteyko breathing technique

An investigation into the health‐related correlates of the control pause measure associated with the Buteyko breathing technique

Breathing Control Techniques in the Management of Asthma

Summary Asthma is a growing problem, both in the United Kingdom and throughout the world. It is estimated that in the UK over 3.4 million people have asthma ( NAC, 1999 ). Consequently the economic burden is huge. The annual cost of asthma to the National Health Service is estimated at £670 million per year, of which 83% (£557 million) is for medication ( NAC, 1999 ). Accordingly, the development and evaluation of interventions to prevent asthma, to reduce its severity or improve its prognosis, are now among the top ten research and development priorities for the National Health Service ( Pearson et al , 1999) . Pharmacotherapy is the mainstay of asthma management ( Beers and Berkow, 1999) , but breathing techniques have also been used ( Holloway and Ram, 2002) . Recently the Buteyko breathing technique has attracted considerable attention. The technique is based on the theory that people with asthma primarily hyperventilate, and that the resulting hypocapnia causes the bronchoconstriction associated with the disease ( Stalmatski, 1997) . The Buteyko breathing technique uses breath control and breath holding (‘control pause') to eliminate hyperventilation, to reset the body's normal carbon dioxide levels, and therefore reduce or eradicate the need for both bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory medication ( Stalmatski, 1997) . Currently, there is limited research on the effectiveness of the Buteyko breathing technique, and it is expensive to learn, both for patients and practitioners. Physiotherapists use similar breathing techniques to manage asthma, but without the breath holding component. Given the National Health Service priorities cited above, the development and evaluation of a simple technique involving both breathing control and breath holding is merited. If the technique is proved effective, through high quality research, it could be taught to patients by physiotherapists and other health professionals working in the field of asthma management. This could reduce the costs associated with the Buteyko breathing technique, reduce the burden of drug costs on the National Health Service, and form the basis of a management approach that empowers patients to be more pro-active in controlling their disease.

Prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in patients treated for asthma in primary care: cross sectional survey

abstractObjectives: To estimate the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing in adults with asthma treated in the community.Design: Postal questionnaire survey using Nijmegen questionnaire.Setting: One general practice with 7033 patients.Participants: All adult...

A Clinical Trial of the Buteyko Breathing Technique in Asthma as Taught by a Video

The Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) is promoted as a drug-free asthma therapy. It is based on the premise that raising blood PaCO2 through hypoventilation can treat asthma. Our study was designed to examine whether the Buteyko Breathing Technique, as taught by a video, is an efficacious asthma therapy. Thirty-six adult subjects with mild to moderate asthma were randomized to receive either a BBT or placebo video to watch at home twice per day for 4 weeks. Asthma-related quality of life, peak expiratory flow (PEF), symptoms, and asthma medication intake were assessed both before and after intervention. Our results demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life among those assigned to the BBT compared with placebo (p = 0.043), as well as a significant reduction in inhaled bronchodilator intake (p = 0.008). We conclude that the BBT may be effective in improving the quality of life and reducing the intake of inhaled reliever medication in patients with asthma. These results warrant further investigation