Diaphragmatic Breathing Program In Older People

Introduction.The aging of the respiratory system includes physiological changes of the lung as well as the osteoarticular and muscular tissues. Therefore, the European and North American Respiratory Societies highlight in their recommendations the importance of prevention of respiratory diseases. They also insist on the need to maintain the integrity of the anatomical elements that participate in the thoraco‐abdominal movements and on preventive treatments in those at risk before the symptoms appear. Objective. The main objective of this study is to apply a program of supervised breathing program in old people with no respiratory health issues and evaluate the effects on respiratory variables such as forced vital capacity (FVC) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) Tiffeneau Index (FEV1/FVC) and oxygen satutarion (SO2). Material and Methods Sample: over 60 year old subjects, institutionalized and with no respiratory condition. Study design. Randomized clinical trial with 2 groups: Group 1. diaphragmatic breathing program and upper and lower limbs maintenance exercises ; Group 2. control group which only do upper and lower limbs maintenance exercises. Evaluations. Clinical interview with anthropometric data and health characteristics. There will be 2 evaluations: at the beginning of the study and at the end of the supervised program (at 8 weeks). In addition, it includes the following evaluation instruments: ‐ Mini‐mental State Examination (MMSE) ‐ Spirometry: obtaining FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC. ‐ Pulse oxymetry: it measure the SaO2 and cardiac frequency.