Dyspnea limits physical activity and functional status in heart failure patients. This feasibility study examined effects of a diaphragmatic breathing retraining (DBR) intervention delivered over 8 weeks with follow-up at 5 months. The intervention group (n = 18) was trained at baseline and received four telephone calls. An attention control group (n = 18) received four telephone calls with general health information. Results from linear mixed model analysis with effect sizes (η(2)) showed dyspnea improved in both groups, with little difference between groups. Compared with attention alone, the intervention increased physical activity (calories expended; η(2) = .015) and functional status (η(2) = .013) across the 5-month follow-up and increased activity counts at 8 weeks (η(2) = .070). This intervention was feasible and demonstrated promising effects on activity and function but not by reducing dyspnea. Patients may have increased physical activity because of instructions to use DBR during activities of daily living. Further exploration of the intervention's underlying physiological effect is needed.
Keywords: diaphragmatic breathing; dyspnea; functional status; heart failure; physical activity; rural.
© The Author(s) 2015.