Abstract |
The current study aimed to investigate the effect of breathing exercise using an incentive spirometer on
cardiopulmonary function in college students in their 20s and 30s with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
infection. Methods: Participants with a history of COVID-19 infection and those without were randomly assigned to the
inspiratory and expiratory exercise groups. The inspiratory exercise group was further classified as follows: group I, which
included those with COVID-19 who performed inspiratory and expiratory exercises; group II, which included those with
COVID-19 who only conducted inspiratory exercises; group III, which included those not infected with COVID-19 who
conducted inspiratory and expiratory exercises; and group IV, which included those not infected with COVID-19 who only
conducted inspiratory exercises. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC
ratio, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and heart rate of all participants were measured before and after respiratory exercise.
Results: There was no significant difference in terms of the FVC between groups (p>.05). However, groups II and III
significantly differed in terms of the FVC before and after exercise (p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms
of the FEV1 between groups (p>.05). Nevertheless, the FEV1 of group III significantly differed before and after exercise
(p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the FEV1/FVC ratio between groups (p>.05). However, the FEV1/FVC
ratio of group I significantly differed before and after exercise (p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms of
the SpO2 between groups (p>.05). Nevertheless, the SpO2 of groups I, II, III, and IV did not differ before and after
exercise (p>.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the heart rate between groups (p>.05). However, the
heart rate of groups I, III, and IV significantly differed before and after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion: Breathing
exercises using an incentive spirometer can improve lung function relatively safely in individuals who had COVID-19. |