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Physiotherapists use breathing techniques on asthma sufferers

Tuesday 20th January 2009

In a bid to improve the quality of life for asthma sufferers, researchers recently studied the effect of using breathing modification techniques.

According to the Nursing Times, 94 patients with the condition received three sessions of physiotherapist-supervised breathing training.

Meanwhile, a control group of 89 patients received three sessions of asthma education from an asthma nurse.

It was found that the people who had been treated by a physiotherapist had an improved quality of life, less anxiety and depression and fewer problems with hyperventilation compared with their control group counterparts.

However, the study's authors concluded that, although breathing training improved quality of life, it was unlikely to lead to reduced use of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat asthma symptoms.

There is no single cause of asthma, but several factors can contribute to its development, including a genetic predisposition, diet and the surrounding environment, according to the NHS.

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