Published online (June 2016) is this new study in the Journal of Asthma, A modified breathing exercise program for asthma is easy to perform and effective.

The study evaluated a simple, modified breathing exercise program investigating how easy it was to perform and how effective it was as an adjunctive therapy.

The program incorporated three different breathing exercises (yoga pranayama techniques, diaphragmatic breathing and pursed lip breathing), each of which was taught to the 74 subjects.

Conclusion:

“A simple program of breathing exercises was found to be effective and could be completed in less than 10 minutes per day. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant improvement in Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores post-exercise.”

One of the exercises, diaphragmatic breathing, can be performed easily in the home without tuition by using POWERbreathe Inspiratory Muscle Training devices. (Please check with your healthcare provider first.)

The scientifically proven training regimen is just 30 breaths twice a day which takes about 5 minutes. POWERbreathe exercises the muscles used to breathe in, primarily the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. It uses the principles of resistance training to exercise these inspiratory muscles by making you breathe in through the device against an adjustable variable ‘load’. It’s like ‘dumbbells for your diaphragm’, and the more you use it the stronger your breathing muscles become; the stronger they become the more you increase the load, improving your ability to take a deeper, more satisfying breath.

This training not only makes your breathing muscles stronger but it also improves their stamina and reduces fatigue, improving quality of life in those with breathing problems such as asthma and COPD, and improving performance in those who’re physically active.