A Study of the Effects of Physiotherapy in Chronic Hypertrophic Emphysema Using Lung Function Tests

Functional Evaluation of a Physical Rehabilitation Program Including Breathing Exercises and Bicycle Training in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

“…Functional stability [4,5,20,30] or im provement in lung function [26] have been reported. Immediate effects of breathing ex ercises usually show improved gas exchange related to the decrease in respiratory fre quency with improved alveolar ventilation [5,12,19,20,29,30].…”

Controlled Trial of Breathing Exercies

“…It has been reasonably argued that P.E.F.R., F.E.V.1, and F.V.C., measurements involving maximum effort, would not necessarily detect improvement achieved by breathing exercises, which seek to inculcate an even, controlled rhythm of respiration, with emphasis on prolonged rather than forced expiration. However, more sophisticated measurements of gas exchange and work of breathing have not, in general, shown any improvement (Becklake et al, 1954;Campbell and Friend, 1955 ;Sinclair, 1955 ;McKinley et al, 1961).…”

“…Many attempts have been made to demonstrate their effect by the use of lung-function tests (Allan, 1952 ;W. F. Miller, 1954;Becklake et al, 1954;Campbell and Friend, 1955;McNeill and McKenzie, 1955;Sinclair, 1955 ;Becker and Denny, 1959;McKinley et al, 1961 ;Cole et al, 1962). Most of these investigations have not produced convincing evidence of improvement; but they have been reasonably criticized by W. F. Miller (1958) and others on the grounds that a group of patients was studied and the results were pooled, thus disguising the possible benefit to individuals, however few, which would justify the method of treatment.…”

Factors affecting ventilatory function in the child with asthma.

“…* Present address: Birch Hill Hospital, Rochdale. tory function tests have been used to assess the effect of breathing exercises in patients with emphysema or asthma and bronchitis have been reported, including those of McNeill andMcKenzie (1955), Miller (1954), Sinclair (1955), Becklake, McGregor, Goldman, and Braudo (1954), and Campbell and Friend (1955), but usually the benefit obtained does not appear to have been great. Scherr and Frankel (1958), investigating the longterm effect of breathing exercises combined with physical exercise in 25 asthmatic children, found some improvement clinically and in pulmonary function, but felt that these were primarily due to 'enlightenment of the child and parents concerning bronchial asthma which resulted in better cooperation with the physician and his treatment'.…”