Controlled Trial of Breathing Exercises

Abstract

A controlled trial of breathing exercises in 100 patients with chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema is reported. There was no objective evidence of improvement in the treated or control group as a whole when simple tests of lung function were used. The proportion of individuals showing such improvement was the same in both groups. Although a higher proportion of patients in the treated group claimed relief from their dyspnoea, a more careful examination of their symptoms suggests that they were moved by gratitude rather than fact. We think it highly unlikely that the short course of breathing exercises used in this trial is of benefit. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.