ABSTRACT
Breathing is a vital process in living creatures, which let the oxygen in and CO[2] out of the body. The process is disturbed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases [COPD]. Breathing maneuvers are the most important methods in minimizing breathing disturbances. This study was conducted to assess the effect of breath training as a respiratory maneuver on O[2] saturation and respiratory patterns in COPD patient in medical wards of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan City. This is a quasi-experimental research, in which the effect of breath-training on O[2] saturation [O2Sat] and respiratory patterns was evaluated in 60 COPD patients, The accessible samples were entered into this study. The demographic variables, like age, sex, and respiratory rate [RR] and rhythm were recorded before educating the patients. By means of pulse oximeter, the O[2] saturation was measured before and after instructing the patients, The patients were requested to breath with puckered lips for 10 minutes and O[2] saturation and respiratory rhythm were assessed immediately after and also in 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 minutes following puckered lip breathing. Non-parametric tests like Wileoxon matched pairs and Macnemar tests were used for data analysis. 43.3% of the patient were farmers and 30% were working in textile industries. 56.3% of the patients were smokers. The mean values of O2Sat were 87.4% and 93% before and immediately after training; and the amount of O2Sat was significantly higher at all intervals except in the 5[th] minute after exercise [p<0.001]. The decrease in RR was 27.7% immediately after exercise and maximal decrease was encountered in the 5[th] minute after rehearsal. But RR gradually increased to pre-training rate. Respiratory rhythm did not show any significant change due to the breath exercise. We concluded that breath exercises such as puckered lip breathing led to an increase in O[2] saturation, deep breathing patterns and finally improvement of lung function. So, breath training should be included in respiratory physiotherapy programs for COPD patients to increase their quality of life