Effect of pursed-lip breathing using a windmill toy model on breathing efficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third-highest cause of death in the world, also true in Thailand. There are various methods to treat COPD such as medication and non-drug therapies for respiratory rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of pursed-lip breathing (PLB) by using a windmill toy in COPD patients. The participants in this randomized controlled trial study were 60 to 75 years old. The total number of 46 participants were equally divided into 2 groups: The intervention group and the control group (23 participants each). The intervention group used breathing training through a windmill toy, whereas the control group received training in standard breathing patterns. The training was performed over sessions in 1 week. Lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were recorded at baseline, and between 6-12 weeks (follow-up). The intervention group and the control group improved significantly in lung function and muscle strength (p < 0.05). In addition, 6MWT in the intervention group increased significantly when compared to the control group (p < 0.05) at week 12. In conclusion, the PLB using a windmill toy is a new form of breathing training that is effective in promoting the strength of the muscles used for breathing, lung performance, and cardiovascular function in COPD patients.