QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH FOR IMPROVING RESPIRATORY MUSCLE-CONTRACTION BYBREATHING EXERCISE

Objective. To investigate the effects of breathing exercise on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients and Methods. 324 patie nts stable COPD were randomly assigned to either the breathing exercis e group (Group I) or control group consisting of placebo (Group II) Th e maximum respiratory pressure (320 cases) and transdiaphragmatic pres sure (129 cases) were monitored via RMS-I and Type-2 pressure measurem ents. The breathing exercises were taught and checked by experienced s pecialists periodically. Comparison was made between Group I and Group II using maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory press ure (MEP), diaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and maximum transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdimax) after 1 to 20 months. Results. In Group I MIP incre ased by 30.42%, MEP 32.10%, Pdi 30.94% and Pdimax 65.59% (P<0.001). No significant changes were observed in Group II given the placebo. The MIP, MEP, Pdi and Pdimax were 6.95%, 2.92%, 14.63 and 9.05% respective ly (P>0.05). Conclusions. Breathing exercise has a potent and long las ting effect on respiratory muscle contraction. The methods mentioned a bove can be used as standard quantitative index for contractile proper ties of respiratory muscle.