Cintia Laura Pereira de Araujo, Manuela Karloh, Cardine Martins dos Reis, Marina Palú, Anamaria Fleig Mayer
Center of Assistance, Education and Research in Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Santa Catarina State University (UDESC), Florianópolis, Brazil
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2008

Background: Dynamic hyperinflation leads to dyspnoea and consequent limitations in functional capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It has been shown that the response to pursed-lips breathing in terms of dynamic hyperinflation and lower-limb exercise capacity is variable, and its effects on activities of daily living are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pursed-lips breathing on dynamic hyperinflation and functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a lower-limb exercise test and in a multiple-task activities of daily living test.
Design: Randomized cross-over study.
Patients: Twenty-five patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (16 men, mean age 64 ± 7 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) = 41. 7 ± 14. 7% predicted).
Methods: Patients randomly performed two 6-min walk tests (6MWT) with and without pursed-lips breathing (6MWTPLB and 6MWTNon-PLB) and two Glittre-ADL tests with and without pursed-lips breathing (TGlittrePLB and TGlittreNon-PLB). Inspiratory capacity was assessed at baseline and immediately after the tests.
Results: The 6MWTNon-PLB and TGlittreNon-PLB induced similar magnitude dynamic hyperinflation (0. 22 ± 0. 24 l and 0. 31 ± 0. 23 l, respectively; p > 0. 05). Pursed-lips breathing did not improve dynamic hyperinflation induced by the 6MWT (0. 24 ± 0. 20 and 0. 22 ± 0. 24 l, respectively, with and without pursed-lips breathing; p > 0. 05). Dynamic hyperinflation in the TGlittrePLB was significantly lower than in the TGlittreNon-PLB (0. 19 ± 0. 20 l and 0. 31 ± 0. 23 l, respectively; p = 0. 02). Pursed-lips breathing did not improve 6MWT or TGlittre performance.
Conclusion: Pursed-lips breathing reduced dynamic hyperinflation in the TGlittre, but not in the 6MWT. However, pursed-lips breathing did not improve functional capacity.