ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Laser Acupuncture Therapy Combined
with Aerobic Exercise Training and Pursed
Lips Breathing in Treatment of Asthmatic
Children: A Comparison of Two Treatment Protocols
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Cairo University, Faculty of Physical
Therapy, Department of Physical Therapy
for Cardiopulmonary Disorders and Geriatrics,
Egypt
Publication date: 2011-07-11
Corresponding author
Shehab Mahmoud Abd El-Kader
Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences,
Department of Physical Therapy, King
Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80324, Jeddah,
21589,Saudi Arabia
Eur J Gen Med 2011;8(3):200-206
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Aim: About 11-15% of children less than 18 years of age suffer from
bronchial asthma that impairs their overall physical ability and reduces
heath related quality of life. Therefore, the development of nonpharmacological
interventions to prevent asthma, reduce its severity
and improve its prognosis is essential. This study compares two types
of treatment protocols to determine the efficiency laser acupuncture
therapy added to aerobic exercise training and pursed lips breathing
in treatment of asthmatic children.
Method: Forty asthmatic children, their age ranged between 8 -15
years participated in the study and divided into two groups, group
(A) received laser acupuncture therapy, aerobic exercise training plus
pursed lips breathing and group (B) received aerobic exercise training
plus pursed lips breathing . The program consisted of three sessions
per week for two months. Measurements of forced vital capacity
(FVC), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), the
average of forced expiratory flow at 75-85% of forced vital capacity
(FEF 75-85%) and maximum expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital
capacity (MEF 50%) and number of asthmatic attacks per week were
taken before and after treatment.
Result: There was a significant reduction in number of asthmatic attacks
per week and improvements in FVC, FEV¬1, FEF 75-85% and MEF
50% in both groups after treatment. However, there was a significant
difference between mean levels of the investigated parameters in
both groups after treatment.
Conclusion: Laser acupuncture therapy added to aerobic exercise
training and pursed lips breathing improves treatment of asthmatic
children.