Effects of shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics on patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effect of breathing exercise program (shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics) on dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). Methods A total of 90 hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COPD were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group with 45 cases in each group. The experimental group lost one case and the control group lost three cases, 86 patients finished the experiment. During hospitalization, on the base of conventional treatment and care, the experimental group received training of shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics after medical staff′s care, with folk music as the background. Exercise frequencymorning, afternoon, 2 times per day, 15 min per time and continue to exercise with researchers′ guidance after discharge. In the control grouptake exercises by self, take routine follow-up after discharge. The intervention continued for three months. The indicators such as dyspnea, pulmonary function, exercise tolerance and life quality of both groups were assessed respectively before and after the intervention. Results There were no significant differences in dyspnea symptoms, lung function, exercise endurance, quality of life between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). The dyspnea scored 1.43±0.87 after intervention in the experimental group, and 1.93 ±0.97 in the control group, there was significant difference (Z=-2.293, P=0.022). The 6 min walking test distance was (371.34 ± 67.74) m after intervention in the experimental group, and (301.57 ± 61.67) m in the control group, there was significant difference(t = 4.988, P =0.000). The St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (respiratory symptoms, limited activity, influence disease) score and total score were 54.73 ± 11.96, 52.55 ± 14.48, 55.45 ± 10.01, 54.56 ± 10.79 after intervention in experimental group respectively, and 61.19 ± 10.72, 61.35 ± 14.66, 60.48 ± 9.39, 60.93 ± 10.16 in the control group, there were significant differences(t=-2.815--2.397, P0.05). Conclusions The program of shrinking lips abdominal breathing combined with vertical breathing gymnastics can relieve dyspnea in patients with moderate to severe COPD, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life, which is a safe and effective rehabilitation for patients with COPD.