Freedive Training Gives Additional Physiological Effect Compared to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD

Zoltán Csizmadia, Pongrác Ács, Gergő József Szőllősi, Blanka Tóth, Mária Kerti, Antal Kovács () and János Tamás Varga
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Zoltán Csizmadia: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Pongrác Ács: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Gergő József Szőllősi: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Blanka Tóth: Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
Mária Kerti: Department of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, 1122 Budapest, Hungary
Antal Kovács: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
János Tamás Varga: Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, 1083 Budapest, Hungary

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: Introduction: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is beneficial for lung mechanics, chest kinematics, metabolism, and inspiratory and peripheral muscle function. Freediving training (FD) can be effective in sportsmen and can improve breath-holding time. Aims: We sought to determine the effectiveness of freediving training in the pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD patients. Patients and methods: Twenty-three COPD patients (15 men and 8 women; median age 63 years; FEV1: 41% pred; BMI: 28 kg/m 2 ) participated in the FD + PR group (3 weeks PR and 3 weeks FD + PR) and 46 patients with COPD (25 men and 21 women; median age 66 years; FEV1: 43% pred; BMI: 27 kg/m 2 ) participated in an inpatient PR program (6 weeks). Patients performed comfort zone breath holding for 30 min/day. Patients increased their breath-holding time within their comfort zone for 30 min. We detected lung function, chest expansion (CWE), inspiratory muscle pressure (MIP), peripheral muscle function (GS), and exercise capacity (6MWD), and we included breath-holding time (BHT), quality of life score (COPD Assessment Test (CAT)), modified Medical Research Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) score, and the severity of the disease assessed by the BODE index (FEV1, BMI, 6MWD, and mMRC) and an alternative scale (FEV1, BMI, 6MWD, and CAT). Result: There were significant differences in the characteristics of the two groups. Significant improvement was detected in all functional and quality of life parameters except lung function in both groups. Significantly higher improvement was detected in CWE, GS, 6MWD, BHT, CAT, mMRC, alternative scale, and MIP. The improvement in forced vital capacity (FVC) was not significant. There were no side effects of FD training. Conclusion: The FD method can potentiate the effect of PR, improving not only BHT but also other parameters. Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN13019180. Registered 19 December 2017.

Keywords: breath holding; respiratory rate; respiratory training; respiratory effectiveness; pulmonary rehabilitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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