Effect of respiratory muscle training using Ultrabreathe device on pulmonary function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy through telephysiotherapy

Background. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), an X linked disorder resulting in respiratory insufficiency, caused by progressive respiratory muscle weakness particularly in diaphragm. During this pandemic, Telerehabilitation played a major role among patients, especially disabled children. OBJECTIVE: To find out the effect on the pulmonary function in DMD children by training the respiratory muscles by telephysiotherapy. Methodology. Non Experimental design, Case series- pre and post test type. Convenient sampling, sample size was 5. Boys and girls between 9 and 16 years of age were included in the study. Procedure. 5 subjects were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were trained for one minute with minimum resistance using ultrabreathe through Telephysiotherapy which is repeated for 3 times in a session with a rest period of 20–30 seconds for six weeks. Outcome measure. Pulmonary Function test. Results. The results of this study shows increased mean value of post test Tidal volume, Forced Vital Capacity, Inspiratory time/Respiration time and Tidal Volume / Inspiration time compared with pre test, whereas other parameters like Duration of Inspiration, Total Lung Volume, Inspiratory Capacity, Forced Expiratory Volume1 does not increased. Conclusion This study concluded that the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy children improved in Tidal Volume, Forced Vital Capacity, Tidal Volume/Inspiration Time, and Inspiration Time/Respiration Time whereas all other parameters such as Duration of Inspiration, Total lung volume, Inspiratory capacity and Forced Expiratory volume1 maintained after 6 weeks of respiratory muscles training with ultrabreathe device.