Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: March | Volume: 10 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 145-158
Respiratory Muscle Stretch Gymnastic In Elderly: Impact on Maximum Breathing Capacity, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate and Exercise Capacity
Mistry Hetal1, Borkar Prajakta Ashok2
1Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy School and Centre, Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai 400008.
2Consultant Physiotherapist, KRIMS Hospitals, Central Bazar Road, Ramdaspeth, Nagpur 440010.
Corresponding Author: Borkar Prajakta Ashok
ABSTRACT
The availability of better medical care and rising health awareness has led to an increase in the geriatric population in the past century. With an increasing age, degenerative changes occur in the body which affect the musculoskeletal and respiratory system as well. There are different types of exercises, mobilisations and respiratory muscle training techniques which have been employed to improve respiratory functions of the aging lung. Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastic (RMSG) is one such technique.
Aims and Objectives: To study the impact of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastic on maximum breathing capacity, peak expiratory flow rate, exercise capacity, rate of perceived exertion and posture in healthy elderly population.
Method: A total of 82 subjects in age group of 60-70 years were selected according to the inclusion and the exclusion criteria. They were asked to perform RMSG exercises for 4 weeks. An assessment of maximum breathing capacity, peak expiratory flow rate, exercise capacity, rate of perceived exertion and posture was done pre and post training.
Results: The results indicated that there was an improvement in maximum breathing capacity, peak expiratory flow rate and exercise capacity (p=0.00). The rate of perceived exertion after 2-minute walk test was reduced (p=0.00). Significant improvement in neck posture (p=0.002) and upper back posture (p=0.00) was also noted.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the practice of RMSG exercises by the elderly subjects led to an improvement in their maximum breathing capacity, peak expiratory flow rate, exercise capacity, rate of perceived exertion and posture.
Key words: Respiratory muscle stretch gymnastic, elderly, maximum breathing capacity, peak expiratory flow rate, 2 minute walk test