Breathing Control Exercises in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain

Status: Completed

Conditions: Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard Occupational Therapy; Behavioral: Occupational Therapy with Breathing Control Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05199987

ErgoControl

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test whether breathing control exercises embedded in occupational therapy sessions have an impact on quality of life and dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Full description

Dyspnea is one of the most important and debilitating symptoms in patients with COPD and is often the starting point to the vicious cycle of physical inactivity. As a consequence of increased dyspnea, patients adapt themselves by reducing the amount of all activities of daily living performed, with a consequent reduction in quality of life.

Occupational therapists are involved in pulmonary rehabilitation programs aiming to improve the biopsychosocial condition of COPD patients. However, the specific roles and intervention of occupational therapists are not well-defined, and standardized protocols are lacking. The implementation of breathing control exercises in occupational therapy sessions, aiming among other things to regulate patient's breathing during their activities of daily living, could be a starting point for a more effective management of patients with COPD. This could ultimately participate in the improvement of quality of life in patients with COPD.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed diagnostic of COPD
• Severity of COPD: global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) classification III or IV
• Undergoing a pulmonary rehabilitation program in J. Bracops Hospital

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiac or orthopedic complications limiting participation in occupational therapy sessions
• Active smoking
• Inability to understand the French language orally or in writing
• Cognitive impairments limiting understanding of instructions and participation in occupational therapy sessions

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Standard Occupational Therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group will receive standard occupational therapy sessions

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy with Breathing Control Exercises

Experimental group

Description:

This group will receive the same component of the control group + breathing control exercises

Treatment:

Behavioral: Occupational Therapy with Breathing Control Exercises