Aweto H.1, Aiyegbusi A.1, Olaniyan Z.1, Mgbemena N.C.1
1University of Lagos, Department of Physiotherapy, Lagos, Nigeria
Background: Inadequate attention has been given to the management of asthma and ways of improving asthma control. There is no clear consensus regarding the comparative efficacy of diaphragmatic resistance training and incentive spirometry on the cardiopulmonary parameters of patients with asthma.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of incentive spirometry and diaphragmatic resistance training on selected cardiopulmonary parameters in patients with asthma.
Methods: A total of forty-five patients with asthma participated in this a randomized controlled study but 42 (22 males and 20 females) completed it. They were randomly assigned to three groups (A, B and C) using computer generated random number sequence with 15 participants in each group. Group A was the incentive spirometry group, Group B was the diaphragmatic resistance training while Group C was the aerobic exercise/control group. All the participants received aerobic exercises on bicycle ergometer with groups A and B receiving (in addition) incentive spirometry and diaphragmatic resistance training respectively. They completed six weeks training at a frequency of three times per week and 40 minutes each session. Cardiopulmonary parameters were assessed for all participants pre and post training. Pulmonary parameters that were assessed were forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) while the cardiovascular parameters assessed were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Paired t-test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine the significant differences among variables. Level of significance was set at p 0.05.
Results: Each of the three groups had significant improvements in the three pulmonary parameters (p 0.05) assessed after six weeks of intervention. However, there was no significant difference in the two cardiovascular parameters (p>0.05) in any of the three groups after six weeks of intervention. When the mean differences of the pulmonary parameters (FEV1, FVC and PEFR) of the three groups were compared, it was observed that diaphragmatic resistance training group had the most significant improvement.
Conclusion(s): Although incentive spirometry brought about significant improvements in the pulmonary functions of patients with asthma, diaphragmatic resistance training brought about more significant improvements.
Implications: Physiotherapists should combine Diaphragmatic Resistance Training and aerobic exercise training in the management of patients with asthma for optimal results in their pulmonary functions.
Funding acknowledgements: This study was self sponsored
Topic: Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval: Health Research and Ethics Committee of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (ADM/DCST/APP/160) and that of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LREC/10/06/604).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
