Effect of Deep Breathing Exercises with Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation versus Diaphragmatic Breathing on Functional Lung Capacity and Quality of Life in COPD Patients: A Comparative Study

Purpose. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (dyspnea, cough, and expectoration) due to persistent abnormalities of the airways and/or alveoli that often result in progressive airflow limitation. Exercise prescription is a key component of pulmonary rehabilitation programs, part of the non-pharmacological approach to managing COPD. The objective of this study was to compare Jacobson's progressive relaxation technique (JPRT) and diaphragmatic breathing with deep breathing in COPD patients. Material & Methods. This comparative study randomly allocated 60 subjects into three groups: Group A, Group B, and Group C. Group A received deep breathing with diaphragmatic breathing, Group B received deep breathing with JPRT, and Group C (the control group) received only deep breathing. All subjects received three weeks of treatment, and data were collected on day 1 (baseline, pre-intervention), and at the end of weeks 1, 2, and 3. Data related to variables of all three groups were analyzed for lung capacity and quality of life, measured by mMRC, CAT Score, Spirometry, and SGRQ. Results. The analysis of all three groups showed a significant difference at the end of the 3rd week, demonstrating the effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing in improving lung capacity and JPRT in improving quality of life. Conclusions. All three interventions were effective, but in different ways. The relaxation technique improved quality of life, while diaphragmatic breathing improved lung capacity.