Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic, multifactorial syndrome with complex symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. Of the major complaints are breathlessness and exercise intolerance. The aim is to explore the potential impact of a physiotherapy intervention involving education and breathing control on dysfunctional breathing and improving exercise intolerance in POTS. The study would be a randomised controlled trial. Duration would be 4 week. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups by lottery method. Data will be collected through questionnaire from enrolled subjects in physical therapy department of Liaqat Hospital, Lahore. Experimental group will be treated by Progressive Breathing Retraining Exercise Program-2 times a day for 15 minutes, initially Controlled Nasal Breathing with progressively increasing the Controlled Pause, 4 times a day for 15 minutes, then both techniques will be performed together. In addition to this Aerobic training will be assigned to both the groups. Aerobic training will include cycling and treadmill- for 30 minutes\\day for 5 days\\week for 1 month. Total 20 sessions. While the controlled group will receive only aerobic training which will include cycling and treadmill for 30 minutes\\day for 5 days\\week for 1 month. Total 20 sessions. The dysfunctional breathing and exercise intolerance will be assessed through Nijmegen Questionnaire and Veterans Questionnaire respectively at 0 week, after 2 week and after 4 week. The data will be analyzed by spss version 25.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
28
Progressive breathing retraining exercises for a period of 4 weeks, for 15 minutes twice daily. As patients progressed to the seated posture, the controlled pause technique (exercise) will be introduced. 4 times a day followed by a sustained period of breathing control. In addition to this Aerobic Training (cycling, treadmill) will also be practiced for 30 minutes constituting 5 days/ week. Initial training would avoid upright position. Mild-to-moderate-intensity endurance training, progressing from semi-recumbent to upright position plus strength training will be practiced.
Progressive breathing retraining exercises for a period of 4 weeks, for 15 minutes twice daily. As patients progressed to the seated posture, the controlled pause technique (exercise) will be introduced. 4 times a day followed by a sustained period of breathing control.
Liaqat Hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
Nijmen Questionnaire ….dysfunctional breathing
This questionnaire is a self-report 16-symptom scale. The frequency of symptoms can be indicated by the following options (score): never (0), rarely (1), sometimes (2), often (3), and very often (4). This questionnaire was developed to screen individuals complaining of shortness of breath with several signs and symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome, such as tense feeling, dizziness, fast and deep breathing, feeling of tightness around the mouth, and anxiety. Readings will be at 0 week, after 2 week and after 4 week
Time frame: 4 week.
Veterans specific activity questionnaire (VSAQ):
The Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) is a 13-item self-administered symptom questionnaire that estimates aerobic fitness expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs). Aerobic capacity is measured in METs by the VSAQ. Readings will be at 0 week, after 2 week and after 4 week
Time frame: 4 week
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