Comparative Effects of Wim Hoff Method and Box Breathing Method in Mild COPD

Comparative Effects of Wim Hoff Method and Box Breathing on Anxiety, Dyspnea and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Mild Copd

The goal of this clinical trial is to support the role of effective, non-pharmacological interventions in the management of the symptoms of mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or the anxiety, dyspnea, and peak expiratory flow rate decline. The main questions it aims to answer are

• There are no significant effects of wim hoff breathing and box breathing technique on dyspnea, anxiety, and PEFR in mild COPD patients.
• There are significant effects of wim hoff breathing and box breathing technique on dyspnea, anxiety, and PEFR in mild COPD patients.

There 2 study groups, group A received box breathing technique and Group B of mild COPD patients received wim hoff breathing technique.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition that causes airflow limitation, leading to symptoms such as dyspnea, chronic cough, and anxiety. COPD significantly affects patients' quality of life, with anxiety and breathlessness often exacerbating the disease's impact. Traditional treatments primarily focus on medication, but non-pharmacological interventions like controlled breathing techniques have gained attention for their potential benefits in symptom management.

The objective is to determine the effects of the Wim Hof Method and Box Breathing on anxiety, dyspnea, and pulmonary function (PEFR and FEV1) in patients with mild COPD, assessing which method offers greater benefits in managing these symptoms. It is a randomized clinical trial was conducted with 60 participants diagnosed with mild COPD. Participants were assigned to either the Wim Hof Method group or the Box Breathing group by simple randomization technique of computer-generated random number table. Over 8 weeks, both groups practiced their respective breathing techniques, and assessments of anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), dyspnea (Borg Dyspnea Scale), and pulmonary function (PEFR and FEV1) were performed pre- and post-treatment. Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female patients
• Age 35 and 50 years
• Patients diagnosed with mild COPD with and FEV1 80%-85% of predicted.
• Participants should have physical and cognitive ability to perform and understand exercises.
• Participants who quit smoking over 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of other respiratory conditions (asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis) excluded.
• Patients of cardiovascular conditions were not included.
• Neurological or psychiatric and cognitive disorders excluded.
• Recent history of COPD hospitalization.
• Participants formally engage in pulmonary rehabilitation programs in last 6 months.