Implication of Buteyko Breathing Technique in Asthmatic Population: A Literature Review

Background: Complementary and experimental medicine is gaining interest in the treatment of asthma around the world. This study summarizes the literature on complementary and alternative medicine approaches that use breathing retraining, i.e Buteyko breathing technique (BBT) as a primary component. Aim: The aim of this research is to provide background for BBT, analyse the available evidence for its efficacy and evaluate the physiological framework behind it. Methods: The analysis of literature is carried out by studying papers from electronic databases such as Cochrane, Medline, Embase, AMED, PEDro, Google Scholar, Elsevier, APTA, Campbell, Web of Science, and Research Gate. Conclusion: Individual studies using BBT consistently showed a reduction in asthma medication use. In either of the BBT experiments, no significant difference in lung ability was found. BBT detractors argue that drug reduction can be due to the physicians' influence, which is difficult to determine. Longer follow-up is needed to show that the improvement in asthma treatment as measured by drug usage is sustained over a clinically appropriate time span.

The Effect of Breathing Retraining on Increasing SpO2 in COPD Patients in Bima Hospital in 2018

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) working group in 2002 reported that 12 Asia Pacific countries showed the prevalence of COPD in Indonesia was 5.6%. Based on medical record data at the Bima Regional General Hospital in April - September 2017, the number of COPD cases was 15 people. COPD is a disease characterized by progressive airway limitation caused by abnormal inflammation with general symptoms of worsening shortness of breath and decreased SpO2. To overcome this, provide breathing retraining which is a technique used to compensate for respiratory deficiencies. Objective: To determine the effect of breathing retreaning on increasing SpO2 in COPD patients. Methods: Quasi Experimental research design using One Group Pretest Posttest Design with a total sample of 17 respondents. Statistical test using Paired T-Test. The data collected is in the form of respondent's characteristic data, looking at the SpO2 value before and after being given breathing training. Respondents who were given the breathing retraining intervention before and after the intervention were measured using a questionnaire. Result: SpO2 assessment range before intervention is more dominant than 90-95% oxygen saturation as many as 15 respondents (88.2%) and > 95% as many as 2 respondents (11.8%). Meanwhile, after the intervention was given, the saturation > 95% was more dominant as many as 13 respondents (76.5%) and saturation 90-95% as many as 4 respondents (23.5%). The results of statistical tests using Paired T-test obtained p = 0.000. Conclusion: There is an effect of breathing retreaning on the increase in SpO2 in COPD patients in the room in RSUD Bima.

Novel Real-Time OEP Phase Angle Feedback System for Dysfunctional Breathing Pattern Training—An Acute Intervention Study

Dysfunctional breathing patterns (DBP) can have an impact on an individual’s quality of life and/or exercise performance. Breathing retraining is considered to be the first line of treatment to correct breathing pattern, for example, reducing ribcage versus abdominal movement asynchrony. Optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) is a non-invasive 3D motion capture technique that measures the movement of the chest wall. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the use of a newly developed real-time OEP phase angle and volume feedback system, as an acute breathing retraining intervention, could result in a greater reduction of phase angle values (i.e., an improvement in movement synchrony) when compared to real-time OEP volume feedback alone. Eighteen individuals with a DBP performed an incremental cycle test with OEP measuring chest wall movement. Participants were randomly assigned to either the control group, which included the volume-based OEP feedback or to the experimental group, which included both the volume-based and phase angle OEP feedback. Participants then repeated the same cycle test using the real-time OEP feedback. The phase angle between the ribcage versus abdomen (RcAbPhase), between the pulmonary ribcage and the combined abdominal ribcage and abdomen (RCpAbPhase), and between the abdomen and the shoulders (AbSPhase) were calculated during both cycle tests. Significant increases in RcAbPhase (pre: −2.89°, post: −1.39°, p < 0.01), RCpAbPhase (pre: −2.00°, post: −0.50°, p < 0.01), and AbSPhase (pre: −2.60°, post: −0.72°, p < 0.01) were found post-intervention in the experimental group. This indicates that the experimental group demonstrated improved synchrony in their breathing pattern and therefore, reverting towards a healthy breathing pattern. This study shows for the first time that dysfunctional breathing patterns can be acutely improved with real-time OEP phase angle feedback and provides interesting insight into the feasibility of using this novel feedback system for breathing pattern retraining in individuals with DBP.

The Anxious Elementary School Child

This chapter provides an overview of anxious elementary schoolchildren who have difficulty attending school due to substantial distress while there. The chapter focuses on understanding the feeling, thinking, and doing parts of distress; easing physical feelings of distress through better breathing and relaxation; dealing with the thinking part of distress or when a child says he does not want to go to school; and managing the doing part of distress by gradually reintroducing a child to school and increasing his time in the classroom. The chapter is designed to educate parents about these parts of distress and presents strategies for addressing each one. These strategies include breathing retraining and muscle relaxation training and gradual exposure to the school setting. The chapter also covers special topics and circumstances that are common to this type of situation.

Efficacy of breathing retraining program on bedside assessment of pulmonary function

Breathing retraining alters respiratory muscle recruitment and improves respiratory muscle performance. However, the effectiveness of Pursed Lip Breathing in reducing dyspnoea is controversial. The aims of this study are to determine if breathing retraining is influencing the Single Breath Count performed by dyspneic subjects and to assess the correlation between Single breath Count Test and Snider match test as the standard measures of bedside pulmonary function test in patients with dyspnoea. 100 Patients with dyspnoea were assessed in the baseline with snider match test and they were asked to perform a single breath count. 5 times weekly and for 4 weeks, the participants have been practicing Breathing Retraining. Pursed lip breathing (PLB) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) are breathing retraining strategies to subjects with dyspnoea; Single Breath Count was measured by asking patients to take a deep breath and count as far as possible in their normal speaking voice without taking another breath. Counting was timed to a metronome set at 2 counts per second. Snider match test was conducted by blowing the matches at increasing the test distance from 3, 6, 9 inches. The result of this study will determine whether breathing retraining is safe and beneficial for people with dyspnoea.

One year later: Highlighting the challenges and opportunities in disseminating a breathing-retraining digital behaviour change intervention

Digital behaviour change interventions can provide effective and cost-effective treatments for a range of health conditions. However, after rigorous evaluation, there still remain challenges to disseminating and implementing evidence-based interventions that can hinder their effectiveness ‘in the real world’. We conducted a large-scale randomised controlled trial of self-guided breathing retraining, which we then disseminated freely as a digital intervention. Here we share our experience of this process after one year, highlighting the opportunities that digital health interventions can offer alongside the challenges that must be addressed in order to harness their effectiveness. Whilst such treatments can support many individuals at extremely low cost, careful dissemination strategies should be proactively planned in order to ensure such opportunities are maximised and interventions remain up to date in a fast-moving digital landscape.