1*Professor, Meenakshi College of Physiotherapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600078, India
Email: koushic82@gmail.com
ORCID: 0000-0002-8070-6294
2Professor, SRM College of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, 603203, India
Email: bala77physio@gmail.com
3Principal/Professor, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Email: principal@maherfpt.ac.in
4Assistant Professor, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Velappanchavadi, Chennai, India
Email: saraswathi.physio@drmgrdu.ac.in
5Professor, Meenakshi College of Physiotherapy, MAHER, Chennai, India
Email: mahesh@maherfpt.ac.in
Background: Asthma in the elderly is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated, contributing to increased dyspnoea, functional limitation, and reduced quality of life. Exercise‑based pulmonary rehabilitation combined with breathing retraining has demonstrated beneficial effects; however, comparative evidence between different walking modalities remains limited.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of low‑intensity walking with integrated breathing and treadmill walking with integrated breathing on dyspnoea, pulmonary function, and quality of life in elderly individuals with asthma.
Methods: A randomized comparative experimental study was conducted among 40 elderly subjects (50–70 years) with mild to moderate asthma. Participants were randomly allocated into Group A (low‑intensity walking with integrated breathing) or Group B (treadmill walking with integrated breathing). Both interventions were administered for 6 weeks. Outcome measures included the Modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale (MBD), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), and the Short‑Form‑36 Health Survey (SF‑36). Within‑group and between‑group differences were analyzed using paired and independent t‑tests at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in MBD, PEFR, and SF‑36 scores following intervention (p < 0.001). Between‑group analysis revealed significantly greater improvements in PEFR and SF‑36 scores in the treadmill walking group compared to the low‑intensity walking group (p < 0.01), while changes in dyspnoea scores were comparable between groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: Low‑intensity walking and treadmill walking combined with integrated breathing are effective interventions for improving dyspnoea, pulmonary function, and quality of life in elderly asthmatic subjects. Treadmill walking with integrated breathing demonstrated superior improvements in pulmonary function and health‑related quality of life.
Keywords: Asthma; Elderly; Dyspnoea; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Walking Exercise; Breathing Exercises.
How to cite this article: Nandhagopal KK, Janakiraman B, Ranganathan P, Karthikeyan S, P.G. MK. Comparative Effectiveness of Low‑Intensity Walking Versus Treadmill Walking Combined with Integrated Breathing on Dyspnoea in Elderly Asthmatic Subjects: A Randomized Comparative Study. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(7s): 950-953; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.7s.101
Source of support: None
Conflict of interest: None