Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part E (2025)

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition marked by airway hyper-responsiveness, leading to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and cough, particularly during exertion or at night and early morning. It affects individuals across all age groups, with young and middle-aged adults being more vulnerable. The present study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and the Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) in reducing dyspnea and improving the quality of life in individuals with asthma. A randomized controlled trial was designed with twenty participants diagnosed with bronchial asthma. They were randomly assigned into two groups: Group A underwent IMT using a threshold device (n=10), while Group B practiced BBT (n=10). Both interventions were carried out for a period of eight weeks. The severity of dyspnea was assessed using the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale, with measurements taken before and after the intervention period. Data were analyzed statistically using paired and unpaired ‘t’ tests, and mean with standard deviation was calculated to determine the effectiveness of the techniques. The results revealed a statistically significant reduction in dyspnea among participants in both groups, with IMT showing greater improvement compared to BBT. This suggests that IMT enhances inspiratory muscle strength more effectively, thereby reducing the severity of breathlessness and improving the functional capacity of asthmatic individuals. The findings support the alternative hypothesis, demonstrating that structured respiratory interventions are beneficial in managing asthma symptoms. In conclusion, while both IMT and BBT are effective non-pharmacological approaches for reducing dyspnea in asthmatic patients, IMT provides superior benefits in strengthening respiratory muscles and alleviating symptoms, thus offering a promising adjunct to conventional asthma management strategies.