Effect of Balloon-Blowing on Dyspnea and Oxygenation in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Pilot Study

Mohammad Bargahi; Nafiseh Rastgoo; Farzane Aryanejad; Sohrab Esmaielzade; Roomina Nemati; Mehdi Ghaebi; Arezoo Bajelan; Soheil Soltani

doi:10.18502/acta.v60i6.10038

Mohammad Bargahi Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Nafiseh Rastgoo Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Farzane Aryanejad Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Sohrab Esmaielzade Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Roomina Nemati School of Medicine, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
Mehdi Ghaebi Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Arezoo Bajelan Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Soheil Soltani Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v60i6.10038

Keywords: Breathing exercises; Balloon-blowing; Balloon-blowing exercise (BBE); Chest physiotherapy; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Dyspnea; Oxygenation; Pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

Dyspnea and decreased O2 saturation are the most common causes of hospitalization in noncritical COVID-19 patients. Breathing exercises and chest physiotherapy are used for managing the patients. These treatments are, however, not well supported by scientific evidence. In a randomized controlled trial, 80 patients were randomly assigned to planned breathing exercises (n=40) and control groups (n=40). The participants in the intervention group were instructed to blow into a balloon five times a day while lying down. Other therapies were similar in both groups. The severity of dyspnea at rest/after activity and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) with/without O2 therapy were compared between the two groups on the first, second, and third days. The study findings showed no statistically significant difference in SpO2 with/without O2 therapy on the first, second, and third days between the two groups. Although the severity of dyspnea showed no significant difference between the two groups, the mean score of dyspnea at rest (2.72±2.25 vs. 1.6±1.21, P=0.007) and after activity (4.53±2.04 vs. 3.52±1.66, P=0.017) improved in the intervention group on the third day. Balloon-blowing exercise improves dyspnea in noncritical Covid-19 patients, but it does not significantly improve oxygenation.