This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of respiratory physiotherapy in controlling hyperventilation and improving quality of life in asthmatic patients through exercises that normalize carbon dioxide levels and reduce bronchospasm.
The study is a narrative review, analyzing articles from databases like PubMed, SciELO, and PEDro, focusing on the effectiveness of respiratory exercises and inspiratory muscle training. Studies included were published between 2012 and 2020 in Portuguese and English, emphasizing asthma and hyperventilation management through physiotherapy.
The review included seven studies about respiratory exercises, particularly, inspiratory muscle training. These studies suggests that respiratory exercises may have a positive effect on respiratory muscle endurance, the use of rescue medication and dyspnea, with no adverse effects. Furthermore, these exercises maybe reduce hyperventilation, improve quality of life in asthmatic patients and revealed improvements in bronchospasm management, with significant gains in respiratory mechanics and symptom reduction.
Respiratory physiotherapy exercises is an effective intervention to reducing hyperventilation in asthmatic patients, improving respiratory muscle endurance and reducing the frequency and severity of dyspnea attacks. Further research, like randomised clinical trails, is recommended to explore long-term benefits.
The evidence about respiratory physiotherapy exercises supports a beneficial effect to use these exercises to standard asthma care, to enhance patient outcomes, reduce medication dependence, improve exercise capacity and quality of life.
Breathing exercises
Physical therapy modalities
