To compare the efficacy of pursed lip breathing and buteyko breathing technique to reduce the symptoms of exercise induced asthma in obese children

Background: Asthma is one of the commonest chronic childhood illness. Childhood obesity forms a link between adult obesity and cardio-vascular risk. Exercise-induced asthma is defined as an intermittent narrowing of the airways, demonstrated by a decrease in some measure of flow, that the patient experiences as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and difficulty in breathing that is triggered by exercise. Objective: Objective is to compare the effectiveness of Pursed Lip Breathing (PLB) and Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) in reducing the symptoms of Exercise Induced Asthma (EIA) in obese children. Method: 50 subjects, diagnosed as Exercise Induced Asthma by paediatrician were randomly selected in to two groups – group A and group B. Group A was treated with pursed lip breathing and group B was treated with Buteyko breathing technique for period of one week. Both the groups were given a common exercise program of chest mobilization with upper limb PNF pattern. Prior to the treatment both the subjects were given relaxation for 5 minutes. Outcome measures of peak expiratory flow rate and paediatric asthma diary scale were taken on 0, 3rd and 7th day. Data was analysed by independent sample t test (SPSS version 21.0) Result: Group B (Buteyko breathing technique) exhibited more improvement in PEFR 70 l/min than group A (Pursed lip breathing) 67.6 l/min. The mean difference of PAD in day time symptoms in group A and group B was 19.47% and 28% respectively, whereas the mean difference in night time awakening symptoms in group A and group B 18.93% and 26.67% respectively. Conclusion: In this study the patients were treated with pursed lip breathing and Buteyko breathing technique respectively. Both of this exercise are statistically significant in reducing the symptoms but Buteyko breathing technique shows more clinical improvement when compare with pursed lip breathing technique.