Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs have been shown to improve exercise capacity and health-related quality of life. Breathing training is considered an important component of PR for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The current study designed a breathing training method based on expiratory airflow limitation and impaired inspiratory muscle function in COPD patients with rapid deep inspiration and prolonged expiration. It was hypothesized that this novel breathing training maneuver can provide effective inspiratory muscle training and alleviate dynamic hyperinflation during breathing training, improving dyspnea. To test the hypothesis, patients with stable moderate or severe COPD symptoms were randomized into one of the three groups, including group A with novel breathing training, group B with diaphragmatic breathing training, and group C as control. Exercise tolerance and quality of life were measured at baseline and post-training. The training groups (groups A and B) improved significantly compared to baseline in mMRC scale, 6-MWD, MIP and MEP, SGRQ total score, and BODE index. Significant improvements were present in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and dyspnea of groups A and B, compared with those of group C, with no statistical differences shown between groups A and B. Breathing training improves dyspnea, exercise capacity, respiratory muscle function, and quality of life in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Results prove that this novel breathing training is an effective rehabilitation method.

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