The Comparison of Changes in Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Young Adults According to the Abdominal Breathing Exercise Methods

The recent pandemic caused by COVID-19 is showing high awareness and social interest in respiratory diseases. The unexpected decline in pulmonary function significantly affects the deterioration of functional activities of daily living and quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to compare changes in pulmonary function and respiratory muscle according to diaphragm breathing exercise methods.

The study consists of 33 healthy young adults in a cross-sectional design used. All three breathing methods were performed at intervals of at least 2 days. The order of intervention was randomly assigned (crocodile breathing, DNS breathing, abdominal breathing using an inspirometer). Pulmonary function (Forced Vital Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume in one second, Forced Expiratory Volume at 1sec/ Forced Vital Capacity, Peak Expiratory Flow, Maximal Voluntary Ventilation) and respiratory muscle strength (MIP, MEP) were evaluated, using Micro Quark (Cosmed) and Micro RPM (Carefusion).

In the result of the pulmonary function test, there was no difference in FVC, FEV1, and FEV1% among the three respiratory exercises (p<0.05). However, in PEF and MVV, there were significant differences. In the result of the respiratory muscle strength test (MIP, MEP) with Mircro RPM, there were significant differences between the Incentive spirometer group and the crocodile group (p<0.05).

Crocodile breathing can improve pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength better than the group using Spirometers. Therefore, crocodile breathing helps strengthen the respiratory muscles of normal adults and improves pulmonary function.