Alternate Nostril Breathing With Incentive Spirometry on Lung Function Among Asthma Patients

Participants in experimental group were instructed to close their left nostril by left index finger and inhale through their right nostril for six seconds, then closing the right nostril and holding breath for six seconds. Afterward, they exhaled through the left nostril slowly for six seconds. Next, they inhaled through left nostril, keeping the right nostril closed for six seconds then hold the breath by closing both nostrils for six seconds subsequently, and then exhaled through the right nostril, keeping the left closed for six seconds repeating these steps several times for 10 minutes

The control group participants were asked to do breathing exercise with incentive spirometry. The subject is asked to create a tight seal around the mouthpiece and asked to inhale deeply and slowly and the subject would observe the flow meter for visual feedback of his/her effort. At the end of the inspiration the subject is asked to sustain the inhalation 2-3 seconds to facilitate the Inspiratory hold. Subject relaxes the seal around the mouthpiece and exhales. Normal breathing is taken, then the exhalation phase in the incentive spirometry is done and the whole cycle is repeated 5 - 10 times thrice a day over a period 6 weeks