Breathing retraining for paediatric dysfunctional breathing with objective improvements in breathing patterns.

UNLABELLED: Dysfunctional breathing is an important cause of breathlessness, characterised by alterations in breathing patterns. Breathing retraining (BRtr) is believed to aid patients re-establish a normal diaphragmatic breathing pattern. Structured light plethysmography was used to assess the breathing pattern of 23 children and adolescents before and after attending a specialist BRtr clinic. It showed that a 3-month physiotherapist-led BRtr programme was associated with a significant reduction in the contribution of rib cage movement to the total change in thoracic volume and respiratory rate, which was maintained when reassessed 3 months later, despite having persisted for the 3 months prior to intervention. This study provides the first objective evidence that BRtr may result in sustained improvements in breathing patterns in children and adolescents with dysfunctional breathing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, TRN: NCT04215341. Date of registration: 23 April 2015.

WHAT IS KNOWN: • Dysfunctional breathing has significant effects on children and adolescents, affecting academic and sport performance, social interactions and activities of daily living. • Breathing retraining-based physiotherapy interventions are known to improve symptoms and quality of life in children and adolescents with dysfunctional breathing.

WHAT IS NEW: • Breathing retraining may result in positive objective changes in the biomechanics of breathing. • Objective improvements in breathing pattern are maintained for at least 3 months after intervention.