Effect of Active Cycle of Breathing Technique versus Active Cycle of Breathing Technique Combined with Pursed-lip Breathing on Dyspnea and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Comparative Stud
Sunith Waghray, Harshita BattulaAbstract
Background:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disorder characterized by persistent airflow limitation and progressive respiratory symptoms. Physiotherapy interventions play an important role in reducing dyspnea and improving airway clearance in individuals with COPD. Breathing techniques such as the active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) are commonly used to facilitate secretion clearance, while pursed-lip breathing (PLB) is known to improve ventilation and reduce breathlessness.
Objective:
To compare the effects of ACBT alone with ACBT combined with PLB in patients with moderate to severe COPD.
Materials and Methods:
Patients aged above 40 years who were clinically diagnosed with moderate to severe COPD were randomly allocated into two groups. Group I received the ACBT, while Group II received PLB in addition to the ACBT. Outcome measures included peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea scale, which were assessed before and after the intervention.
Results:
Both groups showed significant improvement in PEFR and mMRC dyspnea scores following the intervention (
Conclusion:
Both ACBT alone and its combination with PLB demonstrated improvements in PEFR and dyspnea among individuals with COPD. However, the difference between the two interventions was not statistically significant.