Effects of Swedish Massage Prior Circuit Breathing Training on Asthma

Thirty patients with asthma aged 20-65 years were randomized into 3 groups: the control group (CON; n=10), the Circuit Breathing Training group (CBT; n=10), and the Swedish Massage prior to Circuit Breathing Training group (SBT; n=10). Participants in the CON group carried out their daily routine without receiving any training program. The CBT group received circuit breathing training sessions lasting thirty minutes each, three times a week for twelve weeks, while the SBT group received a Swedish massage (20 minutes) before circuit breathing exercises (30 minutes) three times a week for twelve weeks. Physiological data, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, cytokine levels, Asthma Control Test scores, Visual Analogue Scale scores, chest expansion, and muscle flexibility variables were analyzed during the pre-test, post-test at 6 weeks, and post-tests at 12 weeks. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the variables between each test and between groups. Statistical significance was defined as p \< .05.