Kk. Delk et al., THE EFFECTS OF BIOFEEDBACK-ASSISTED BREATHING RETRAINING ON LUNG FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS, Chest, 105(1), 1994, pp. 23-28
This study examines the effects of respiratory muscle feedback and bre
athing retraining (BRT) on lung function in patients with cystic fibro
sis (CF). Twenty-six patients with CF were matched for age and severit
y of disease. Standard respiratory spirometry was performed on ah subj
ects before and after biofeedback training. Thirteen experimental subj
ects underwent eight sessions of pneumographic or strain-gauge feedbac
k from the abdominal muscles and electromyogram feedback from accessor
y respiratory muscles to assist in learning diaphragmatic and pursed-l
ips breathing maneuvers. Control subjects received biofeedback-assiste
d (hand warming) relaxation training. Results revealed a significant i
mprovement in FEV(1) and mean forced expiratory flow during the middle
half of forced vital capacity (FVC) for the biofeedback group, while
the control group showed no change. A similar trend was noted for FVC.
These data suggest that respiratory muscle feedback and BRT may impro
ve lung function in patients with CF.