Comparison of Buteyko Technique and Pursed Lip Breathing in Asthma
Comparison of Buteyko Technique and Pursed Lip Breathing in Asthma
The objective of the study was to compare the effects of Buteyko breathing technique and
 pursed lip breathing technique in the management of asthma. A randomized controlled trial was
 conducted on 60 asthmatic patients randomly allocated to Buteyko technique group and pursed
 lip breathing group. Both the groups received 4 weeks of treatment, 3 times per week. Data
 was collected at base line, 2nd week and 4th week. Outcome measurements included FVC, FEV,
 PEFR and Asthma Control Test Questionnaire scores. Data analysis was carried out on
 Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) v.21.0. Confidence interval was kept at
 95% and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition in which narrowing and swelling of the airways occur,
 accompanied with extra mucus production. This results in difficulty in breathing and triggers
 coughing, wheezing and dyspnea. In some cases asthma is a minor irritation, but on the other
 end of the spectrum it may interfered with activities of daily living and can even become
 life threatening in severe asthma attacks. According to a study conducted in Pakistan, the
 prevalence of asthma in adults was found to be 10.8% in adults, working in tanneries with
 5.3% of them reporting their symptoms to be work related.

 Non-pharmacological management of asthma includes patient education, guidance and
 physiotherapy. It is suggested that physical therapy may have positive effects in patients
 with asthma, as they possess dysfunctional breathing patterns accompanied with poor physical
 condition. Numerous reviews by Cochrane have been published in the recent years regarding the
 effects of physical therapy in patients with asthma, focusing on the effects of numerous
 techniques including Alexander technique, manual therapy, physical training, breathing
 exercises and inspiratory muscle training. In terms of specific effects of different physical
 therapy treatment techniques in patients with asthma, in light of the existing literature,
 breathing exercises have found to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms of anxiety,
 depression and hyperventilation, and decrease respiratory rate and medication use. Moreover,
 inspiratory muscle training is found to improve symptoms, decrease medication use and also
 improve inspiratory pressure.

 Buteyko technique is a specialized breathing technique developed to reduce chronic
 hyperinflation.

 A pre and post design quasi experimental study conducted was conducted in 2014 to determine
 the effects of Buteyko breathing technique on asthma control and QOL in school aged children
 with asthma where Buteyko breathing technique group showed significant improvements terms of
 asthma control and quality of life.

 Based upon the review of the literature, evidence is inadequate in terms of comparison of
 Buteyko breathing technique with pursed lip breathing technique in the management of patients
 with asthma except for a single randomized controlled trial. For this reason the purpose of
 the current study is to compare the effects of Buteyko technique with pursed lip breathing in
 the management of patients with asthma.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients categorized as mild to moderate persistent asthma category according to the
 "National Asthma Education and Prevention Program"

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Use of oral steroids within the four-week run-in period,

 -  Change in inhaled steroid dose and type,

 -  Other significant unstable medical conditions,

 -  They have undertaken Buteyko breathing technique previously.