호흡운동 적용에 따른 COVID-19 경험 환자의 심폐기능 분석

The Analysis of Breathing Exercise on Cardiopulmonary Function in the Presence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection

Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of breathing exercise using an incentive spirometer on cardiopulmonary function in college students in their 20s and 30s with and without coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Methods: Participants with a history of COVID-19 infection and those without were randomly assigned to the inspiratory and expiratory exercise groups. The inspiratory exercise group was further classified as follows: group I, which included those with COVID-19 who performed inspiratory and expiratory exercises; group II, which included those with COVID-19 who only conducted inspiratory exercises; group III, which included those not infected with COVID-19 who conducted inspiratory and expiratory exercises; and group IV, which included those not infected with COVID-19 who only conducted inspiratory exercises. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, oxygen saturation (SpO2), and heart rate of all participants were measured before and after respiratory exercise. Results: There was no significant difference in terms of the FVC between groups (p>.05). However, groups II and III significantly differed in terms of the FVC before and after exercise (p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the FEV1 between groups (p>.05). Nevertheless, the FEV1 of group III significantly differed before and after exercise (p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the FEV1/FVC ratio between groups (p>.05). However, the FEV1/FVC ratio of group I significantly differed before and after exercise (p<.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the SpO2 between groups (p>.05). Nevertheless, the SpO2 of groups I, II, III, and IV did not differ before and after exercise (p>.05). There was no significant difference in terms of the heart rate between groups (p>.05). However, the heart rate of groups I, III, and IV significantly differed before and after exercise (p<.05). Conclusion: Breathing exercises using an incentive spirometer can improve lung function relatively safely in individuals who had COVID-19.