An Assessment of the Value of Breathing Exercises in Chronic Bronchitis and Asthma

By tradition treatment by breathing exercises is well established in chronic lung disease, particu-larly where emphysema and bronchospasm are present. Weiser (1950) noted that it had its supporters amongst the Chinese in 2500 B.C. and later in classical and mediaeval times. It is not lacking supporters to-day, although in recent years some scepticism has been expressed about its effects. Donald (1953) in his review of respiratory function says that, although he has no evidence, he believes breathing exercises have no effect on emphysema and bronchospasm. Herxheimer (1952) agrees that in asthma much of the benefit claimed can be attributed to the psychological effects and he urges the necessity for objective