Effect of Breathing Exercises on Fatigue Dimensions in Patients with COPD

Objective: Fatigue is known as an important and multidimensional symptom in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is one of the effective ways to reduce fatigue and improve the quality of life in patients with COPD. However, equal recovery to all dimensions of fatigue is unclear after the rehabilitation program. This study aims to determine the effect of breathing exercises on the fatigue dimensions in patients with COPD Method: This study aimed to determine the effect of breathing exercises on fatigue dimensions in patients with COPD. The population in this clinical-trial research included 70 COPD patients who had been hospitalized in the Thorax Ward of Razi Hospital in Rasht. The samples were divided into two groups of 35 subjects, by which the control group was tried to be in a separate room from the experimental group. The experimental group participated in the breathing exercises program where the patients were asked to perform their respiratory exercises 4 times a day for 10 days. The control group received the routine care. Dimensions of fatigue (physical, general, mental, reduced activity, and reduced motivation) were measured and compared in both groups. SPSS (version 21) was used to analyze the data and descriptive and inferential tests were used. Results: There were significant statistical improvements in mean score of fatigue dimensions after breathing exercises, general fatigue (p=0.0001), physical exhaustion (p=0.0001), reduced activity (p=0.0001) and reduced motivation (p=0.0001), but there was no significant difference in mental fatigue. Predictors of changes in total fatigue score, breathing exercises (p<0.0001) and Salbutamol spray (p<0.013) were considered as two factors affecting fatigue score changes in multiple analysis. Conclusion: According to the obtained findings, breathing exercises are effective in many dimensions of fatigue as a non-pharmacological, low-cost, and safe method in care-and-treatment process in patients with COPD, but their effect on mental fatigue, as an important dimension, requires different plans and designs in doing breathing exercises.