BACKGROUND: Physical changes due to aging lead to weakening of respiratory muscles and decreased lung functions that result in increasing risk of chronic respiratory disease. A complex respiratory rehabilitation program is needed to prevent respiratory diseases and improve lung functions and quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of respiratory training programs on pulmonary functions, cardiovascular endurance, and quality of life in elderly women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The program was structured with respiration exercise and playing wind musical instruments for 10 weeks (n=13) and 5 weeks (n=16), respectively, for elderly women in 2 different community welfare centers. The program consisted of breathing exercises twice a week, 20 min per session, and 40 min of wind instrumentation. Effects were assessed using forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio (FEV1%), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified Borg scale (MBS), and life satisfaction scale (LSS).

RESULTS: The 10-week program group (10WPG) showed significant differences in FVC, MVV, 6MWT, MBS, and LSS before and after interventions (p<.05), and the 5-week program group (5WPG) showed significant differences in FVC and 6MWT. MVV, MBS, and LSS were not significantly different between the 2 groups (p<.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the long-term respiration training program has positive effects on pulmonary functions, cardiopulmonary endurance, and quality of life. Various respiratory training programs and long-term implementations are needed to prevent respiratory illness and to improve lung functions and quality of life of respiratory patients.

Keywords: Breathing Exercises, Pulmonary Ventilation, Respiration