Influence of Structural Corrective and Respiratory Exercises on Cardiorespiratory Indices of Male Children Afflicted with Kyphosis

Abstract

Objective Structural deformities can impair different body functions, and kyphosis is one of the most common postural deformities. It seems that kyphosis induces unfavorable effects on the respiratory system. Impairment of pulmonary function, in turn, affects spirometer indices significantly. Some previous studies have indicated a positive influence of corrective structural exercise on kyphosis. Recently, respiratory muscle exercises were considered as one of the treatment methods of pulmonary disease. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of structural corrective and respiratory exercises, for a period of six weeks, on cardiorespiratory indices of male children, afflicted with kyphosis Methods & Materials The study population included male students in the age group of 10-12 years in the city of Bandarabbas. After obtaining signed consent forms from their parents, 34 boys with kyphosis were selected using the convenience sampling method. The extent of kyphosis among the participants was measured using flexicurve. Only kyphosis cases with an angle of 40 or more were selected, assimilated, and divided into three groups. The first group underwent structural corrective exercises (n=10), the second group partook in respiratory muscle exercises (n=12), and the third group was the control group (n=12) in accordance with kyphosis level. Respiratory indices including inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV 1) were measured using the spirometer, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max) was measured using a 20 m shuttle test before and 24 hours after the last session of exercise/training. Exercise/training was undertaken for six weeks, with three sessions per week and progressively. The findings were evaluated using SPSS software version 21. After confirming the normality of the findings with the help of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to statistically compare post-experiment variables of the three groups by controlling the possible influence of pre-experiment variables. Results The results of the study indicated that IRV (P=0.001), ERV (P=0.001), FVC (P=0.001), and MVV (P=0.001) increased significantly in the respiratory exercise group compared with the control. Similarly, IRV (P=0.001), ERV (P=0.001), FVC (P=0.007), and MVV (P=0.001) also increased significantly in the respiratory exercise group compared with the structural corrective exercise group. But, there was no significant difference in FEV1 (P=0.126), VO 2max (P=0.490), and kyphosis degree (P=0.380) between the study groups. Conclusion According to our findings, it can be concluded that there is an improvement in cardiopulmonary function indices following respiratory exercises. Keeping in mind the ease with which they can be performed and the fact they do not require special devices, it can be firmly stated that respiratory muscle exercises are more efficient than othe...

The Effect of Self-Care Training on Spirometric Indices in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Clinical Trial Study

“…Moghaddasi et al (23), addressing the effect of exercise on clinical manifestations of pulmonary function in asthmatic patients, reported that exercise could reduce symptoms of asthma (such as wheezing, dyspnea, and coughing) and improve pulmonary function. Meamari et al (24) examined the impact of six weeks of structural corrective exercises along with respiratory muscle exercises on cardiopulmonary indices in ten-year-old children with kyphosis. Consistent with the present study, they reported that respiratory exercises had increased FVC and FEV1 values.…”

The Effect of Breathing Exercises on Respiratory Condition After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

“…When exhaling, they had to partly press their lips and contract the abdominal muscles, count to five, and exhale slowly through the mouth, counting from one to five. The intervention group performed this exercise three times during waking hours (at 12, 16, and 20 o'clock after the diaphragmatic breathing exercise) for 20 minutes (32,33).…”