Balloon Blowing Breathing Exercise in School-age Children With Asthma.

Effects of Balloon Blowing Breathing Exercise on Respiratory Muscle Strength and Symptoms in School-age Children With Asthma.

This study were to investigate the effects of balloon blowing breathing exercise on respiratory muscle strength and asthma symptoms in school-age children with asthma.

Thirty school-age children with asthma aged 7 - 12 years old who were admitted at the outpatient examination room, Phramongkutklao Hospital, divided into 2 groups. The first group was 15 individuals trained with sustained maximal inspiration (SMI) breathing exercise while the second group was 15 individuals training with balloon-blowing breathing exercise. Participants were required to complete breathing exercise 5 times per week for 8 weeks. Five breathing exercises were taken for 8 weeks before and after the experiment. Physiological characteristics data, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and asthma symptoms variables were comparatively analyzed before and after training. The mean values of variables before and after the experiment of each group were analyzed using paired t-test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• has been diagnosed with asthma for at least 6 months. The severity rating is not higher than level 2, (Forced expiratory volume in one second; FEV1 is at least 80%)
• No history of diabetes, heart disease, and musculoskeletal disease
• Did not participate in exercise training for more than 20 minutes 3 times a week or more in the 6 months prior to the start of data collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with a history of exercise-induced asthma.
• Recurrent of acute exacerbation
• Cannot participate at least 80% of training program (≤ 32 sessions of 40 sessions)
• Unwilling to continue practicing