Effectiveness of Breathing Control and Pursed Lip Breathing on Dyspnea and Ventilatory Function in Acute Asthma Exacerbation: A Case Report

Abstrak

Background: Acute asthma exacerbation is characterized by bronchoconstriction, airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and increased work of breathing, which may lead to dyspnea and impaired ventilatory function. Respiratory physiotherapy has increasingly been used as a complementary intervention to improve breathing efficiency and reduce respiratory distress in patients with asthma exacerbation.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combined breathing control and pursed lip breathing on dyspnea and ventilatory function in a patient with acute asthma exacerbation.
Methods: A longitudinal case study was conducted in a 36-year-old female patient with acute asthma exacerbation at RS Paru Respira. The patient received respiratory physiotherapy interventions consisting of infrared therapy, upper trapezius muscle release, breathing control, and pursed lip breathing over three treatment sessions. Outcomes were evaluated using thoracic expansion measurements, peak expiratory flow (PEF), inspiratory capacity assessed by Voldyne, Borg Dyspnea Scale, and auscultation findings.
Results: Thoracic expansion improved in all measurement areas, with axillary expansion increasing from 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm, fifth intercostal space expansion from 0.9 cm to 2.1 cm, and xiphoid expansion from 1.2 cm to 1.8 cm. Peak expiratory flow increased from 110 L/min to 140 L/min, while inspiratory capacity improved from 700 mL to 1000 mL. Borg Dyspnea Scale scores decreased from 7 to 4, indicating reduced dyspnea severity. No adverse events were observed during intervention.
Conclusion: Combined breathing control and pursed lip breathing were associated with improvements in dyspnea and ventilatory function in acute asthma exacerbation. However, further controlled studies are required to confirm these findings.