Comparison of the Effect of Breathing Exercises and Chest Physiotherapy on Fatigue in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a debilitating respiratory disease and one of the main causes of death and disability in the world. Respiratory support treatments are among the methods for the recovery of these patients. The present study aims to assess the effect of breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy on the fatigue of patients with COPD.

This is a quasi-experimental study on 45 patients COPD who were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental groups of breathing exercises (n=15) and chest physiotherapy (n=15) and one control group (n=15). Before and 6 weeks after the intervention, Krupp’s Fatigue Severity Scale was completed by the patient. Data analysis was done using paired t-test, one-way analysis of variance and chi-square in SPSS software, version 26. 

The mean scores of fatigue severity were significantly different in all groups between pretest and post-test phases (P<0.001). The fatigue severity in the intervention groups was reduced, while it increased in the control group, after intervention. There was no significant difference in fatigue severity among the three groups at baseline, but the difference was significant after the intervention (P<0.001). 

Considering the reduction in fatigue severity after two supportive treatments, it is recommended that breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy should be used along with drug treatments for patients with COPD to improve their respiratory conditions.