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O’Connor E, Patnode CD, Burda BU, et al. Breathing Exercises and/or Retraining Techniques in the Treatment of Asthma: Comparative Effectiveness [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2012 Sep. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 71.)
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Our literature search identified 248 unique articles published in a non-English language. The following articles appear to be relevant studies (only based on their title and/or abstract) to this comparative effectiveness review.
| Reference | Abstract | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Fluge T, Richter J, Fabel H, et al. Long-term effects of breathing exercises and yoga in patients with bronchial asthma. Pneumologie 1994;48(7):484–90. PMID: 7937658. | To compare the effects of BE or Y on the course of bronchial asthma we studied 36 subjects with a mild disease. The patients were randomly divided into three groups. Two of them participated in a 3 weeks training program of BE or Y while the third group rested without any additional treatment. At the end of the training period the patients were asked to practice BE or Y on their own. Drug therapy and lung function parameters before and after a beta2-agonist metered dose inhaler albuterol were recorded prior to the training program and in 4 weeks intervals for 4 months thereafter. The response to the beta2-agonist was documented continuously in 28 patients. The mental state of the patients was elucidated by questionnaires. Prior to the study a significant effect of inhaled albuterol on the FEV1 was shown without any significant between group differences. Both caused a significant amelioration of the mental state but only the BE induced a significant improvement of lung function parameters compared with the individual baseline values. The FEV1 increased significantly by 356.3 ± 146.2 ml (p<0.05) and the VC by 225.0 ± 65.5 ml (p<0.01). These long-term changes were not significantly different from the actual response to albuterol. BE decreased the RV significantly by 306.3 ± 111.6 ml (p<0.05), an effect significantly higher compared with the beta2-agonist (p<0.01). BE in combination with albuterol caused an additive effect. | German |
| Rocha EM. The effect of respiratory rehabilitation on the functional ventilation changes in the asthmatic child. Allerg Immunol 1993;25(1):26–8. PMID: 8471136. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement of lung function abnormalities during asymptomatic periods in children with perennial atopic asthma after physical respiratory rehabilitation and swimming. 240 lung function tests were performed regularly by whole-body plethysmography during asymptomatic periods on 68 atopic asthmatic children aged 5 to 13 (mean 8.7 years), in a follow up 4 years study (1983 to 1987). Total lung capacity, VC, FEV1, resistance, MEF50, RV and TGV were recorded. We selected TGV for measured hyperinflation, resistance for bronchial obstruction and MEF50 for small airways obstruction. We divided these children population in two groups: group A control (20 subjects, mean 9.3 years age) immunotherapy alone; group B (48 subjects, mean 8.03 years age) immunotherapy and respiratory rehabilitation and swimming. Furthermore, we compared the evolution of the lung function according to the severity of asthma on B group alone. The number of hyperinflated or bronchial obstructed children who did RRS is significantly smaller than on the control group. Nevertheless, breathing exercises and swimming has no effect on peripheral airway obstruction. When we compared the effect of asthma on B group alone, we noted that the recovery of lung abnormalities were observed on the great majority of mild and moderate hyperinflated and bronchial obstructed asthma. In severe asthma, the results were not so good, particularly on bronchial and peripheral airway obstruction. In these last cases the functional prognosis will be uncertain. Respiratory rehabilitation and swimming have an unquestionable effect on improvement of hyperinflated asthmatic children, some effect on improvement on permanent bronchial obstruction, and without any benefit on permanent peripheral airway obstruction. Lung function tests might be monitored the RRS in all asthmatic children with lung function impairment. | French |
Abbreviations: BE: breathing exercise; FEV1: forced expiratory volume in 1 second; MEF50: maximal expiratory flow at 50 percent; ml: milliliter; RRS: respiratory rehabilitation and swimming; RV: residual volume; TGV: thoracic gas volume (also known as functional residual capacity); VC: vital capacity; Y: yoga