Effects of Farinelli's Breathing Exercise in COPD Patients

This study was to investigate the effect of Farinelli's breathing exercise on pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, aerobic capacity, impact of COPD questionnaires, cytokines, and oxidative stress in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Sixteen patients with COPD (GOLD I) with mild and moderate (GOLD II) severity aged 51 - 80 years old who visited at the outpatient examination room, Phramongkutklao Hospital divided into 2 groups; diaphragmatic breathing group (DB; n=8) and Farinelli's breathing group (FB; n=8). Participants in each group were administered to complete breathing exercise 5 times per week for 8 weeks. Physiological data and pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, MVV, VC, TV, IRV, ERV and IC), respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP), aerobic capacity (6-MWD and VO2max), impact of COPD questionnaire (mMRC and CAT), cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6), and oxidative stress (MDA) were analyzed during Pre- and Post-test.

Farinelli's breathing exercise, COPD, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, aerobic capacity, cytokine, COPD symptoms

Sixteen patients with COPD (GOLD I) with mild and moderate (GOLD II) severity aged 51 - 80 years old who visited at the outpatient examination room, Phramongkutklao Hospital divided into 2 groups; diaphragmatic breathing group (DB; n=8) and Farinelli's breathing group (FB; n=8). Participants in each group were administered to complete breathing exercise 5 times per week for 8 weeks. Physiological data and pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, PEF, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%, MVV, VC, TV, IRV, ERV and IC), respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP), aerobic capacity (6-MWD and VO2max), impact of COPD questionnaire (mMRC and CAT), cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6), and oxidative stress (MDA) were analyzed during Pre- and Post-test. The dependent variables between pre-test and post-test were analyzed by a paired t-test. Independent t-test was used to compare the variables between groups. Differences were significant at p < .05.

after 1 minute of normal breathing, follow this instruction; inhale 2 seconds, suspend 2 seconds, exhale 2 seconds. inhale 3 seconds, suspend 3 seconds, exhale 3 seconds. inhale 4 seconds, suspend 4 seconds, exhale 4 seconds. inhale 5 seconds, suspend 5 seconds, exhale 5 seconds. inhale 6 seconds, suspend 6 seconds, exhale 6 seconds. This cycle lasted 1 minute (60 seconds), called Farinelli's breathing (FB). When participants finished these cycle, repeated it again 4 times. 1 minute of NB + 4 minutes of FB called 1 set. The participants were asked to practice 6 sets/day, 5 days/week (Monday-Friday) for week 1-4, and increased duration to 8 sets/day, 5 days/week for week 5-8.

after 1 minute of normal breathing, inhale 2 seconds and exhale 2 seconds with nasal airway. Continued breathing this pattern until 4 minutes, then back to normal breathing 1 minute . 1 minute of NB + 4 minute of DB called 1 set. The participants were asked to practice 6 sets/day, 5 days/week (Monday-Friday) for week 1-4, and increased duration to 8 sets/day, 5 days/week for week 5-8.

FVC is the total volume of air that can be exhaled during a maximal forced expiration effort. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. FVC is measured in liters.

FEV1 is the volume of air exhaled in the first second under force after a maximal inhalation. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. FEV1 was showed in liters.

TV is the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during each respiratory cycle. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. TV is measured in liters.

IRV is the maximal volume of air inhaled from end-inspiration. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. IRV is measured in liters.

ERV is the maximal volume of air exhaled from end-expiration. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. ERV is measured in liters.

IC is the amount of air that can be inhaled after the end of a normal expiration. It is, therefore, the sum of the tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. IC was showed in liters.

PEF is the amount and rate of air that can be forcefully breathed out of the lungs. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. PEF is measured in liters/seconds.

FEF25-75% is the average flow from the point at which 25 percent of the FVC has been exhaled to the point at which 75 percent of the FVC has been exhaled. The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. FEF25-75% is measured in liters/seconds.

Change from Baseline Forced Expiratory Flow from 25% to 75% of vital capacity (FEF25-75%) at 8 weeks.

It represents the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire in the first second of forced expiration (FEV1) to the full, forced vital capacity (FVC). The participants were asked to wear a nose clip while sitting on a chair, and the researcher gave the participants the step-by-step protocol to prevent an incorrect maneuver. For the FVC maneuver, three cycles of slow normal breathing were performed before demonstrating forced inspiration and expiration. FEV1/FVC was showed in percentage.

Change from Baseline The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity at 8 weeks.

Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) in cmH2O. The participants were in a sitting position using a portable handheld mouth pressure meter (i.e., MicroRPM) with a nose clip. For the MIP measurement, the participants were asked to exhale until they felt no air remaining in their lungs (starting with the functional residual capacity [FRC] point), then held the device on their mouth and inhaled forcefully for 1-2 seconds. For the MEP measurement, the participants were asked to inhale until their lungs were completely filled with air (starting with the total lung capacity [TLC] point), then they kept the device on their mouth and exhaled forcefully for 1-2 seconds

The participants were asked to inhale and exhale quickly and forcefully for 10 seconds. Maximal Voluntary Ventilation (MVV) were measured in liters/minutes.

The impact of COPD was assessed using the mMRC and the CAT. The mMRC has a 5-point (0-4) scale based on the severity of dyspnea, whereas the CAT is a patient-completed instrument to assess and quantify the quality of life and burden of the symptoms in patients with COPD. It consists of eight questions, each of which had a semantic 6-point (0-5) differential scale, providing a total score of up to 40 points. The scores 0-10, 11-20, 21-30, and 31-40 represented mild, moderate, severe, and very severe clinical impact, respectively.

The participants were asked for intravenous blood puncture 5 cc. The levels of cytokines (Tumor necrosis factor alpha;TNF-α and Interluekin-6; IL-6 were measured in pg/ml) were determined by using the multiplex inflammation from the plasma.

The participants were asked for intravenous blood puncture 5 cc. Malondialdehydes (MDA) was analyzed by the lipid peroxidation (MDA) fluorometric assay kit in μmol/L.

Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 6-MWD, following the guidelines of the 2002 ATS. A modified settlement of the 25 m straight walking test with turning points. Participants were asked to wear comfortable clothes and shoes during the test, and their vital signs (i.e., resting heart rate and blood pressure) were evaluated before and after the test. The participants were asked to walk at a comfortable pace for 6 minutes under the supervision of a nurse and were permitted to terminate and rest during the test if they sensed heavy dyspnea.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with COPD who treated in Phramongkutklao Hospital Have a history of smoking FEV1 predicted after bronchodilator more than 50% No change in medication in 4 weeks No history of acute exacerbation in 4 weeks No history of cardiac disease. Exclusion Criteria: Recurrent of acute exacerbation Cannot participate at least 80% of training program (≤ 32 sessions of 40 sessions) Unwilling to continue practicing.

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