Effectiveness of Balloon Blowing Technique on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate, Exercise Tolerance and Quality of Life of Post Covid-19 Survivors

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Corona virus 2(SARS-COV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide and caused a pandemic that is still ongoing. The virus can cause a disease named as COVID -19, which is composed of multisystem manifestations with a pulmonary system predominance. So, COVID-19 has shown high infection and mortality rates all over the world. After infection survivors are dealing with wide variety of effects and complications. All these issues to be included in a clinical case definition of post COVID -19 condition. Since the lungs are the most involved organs and the post COVID-19 prolonged and persistent effects are mainly related to the pulmonary system. Post COVID-19 complications leads to fibrosis and loss of function of respiratory system. So, early pulmonary rehabilitation and exercise therapy among COVID -19 survivors is very important. The balloon blowing exercise is one of the cost effective, beneficial breathing exercise pattern. The purpose of this study is to find out the effectiveness of balloon blowing technique on Peak expiratory flow rate, Exercise tolerance and Quality of life of Post COVID-19 survivors. METHODOLOGY: 30 subjects were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, then divided in to two groups. Group A (Experimental group n= 15) received both Balloon blowing technique and Diaphragmatic breathing exercise, Group B (control group n=15) received Diaphragmatic breathing exercise. Exercise program was held for 3 sets per day.10 minutes for Diaphragmatic breathing exercise and 30 minutes for Balloon blowing technique regularly for 8 weeks. The Exercise tolerance, Peak expiratory flow rate and Quality of life were measured at the beginning and eighth week after intervention using Six minute walk test, Peak flow meter and St. George respiratory questionnaire. RESULT: The results were analysed using paired and independent t test. The significant level was kept as p< 0.05. The post test result in case of Peak expiratory flow, p < 0.05, shows there is a significant difference in post test scores between experimental and control group. The post test result in case of Exercise tolerance, p<0.05, which shows that there is a significant difference in post test score between experimental and control group. The post test result in case of Quality of life, p < 0.05 , which shows that there is significant difference in post test score between experimental and control group. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that, there is improvement in Peak expiratory flow rate, Exercise tolerance and Quality of life in experimental and control group. The experimental group shows more significant improvement than control group in all the three parameters. Key words: Post COVID-19, Balloon blowing technique (BBT), Diaphragmatic breathing exercise, Exercise tolerance, Six minute walk test, Peak expiratory flow rate, Quality of life.