Effects of Pilates Breathing on Chest Expansion, Dyspnoea and Functional Capacity in COPD Patients - An Experimental Study

Abstract

COPD is highly prevalent and not fully reversible. Hence there arises need for finding new significant treatment strategies for treating and preventing COPD. Pilates breathing is growing in both the area of fitness and rehabilitation, but there is scarcely any scientific research on Pilates breathing, particularly in the area related to respiration, with no research done in India. Pilates breathing if proved effective can be of great benefit in curing and rehabilitating respiratory conditions like COPD who present diaphragmatic muscle dysfunction, where it can be of maximum utility. Taking into consideration the progressive acceptance of the Pilates breathing and lack of its studies in COPD, the study was undertaken to study its effectiveness and inculcate it in routine rehabilitation of COPD patients if proven effective. Keywords: Pilates breathing, COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chest expansion, dyspnoea, functional capacity, experimental study.