Benefits of RMT on Clearing Excessive Mucus

Mucus plays an essential role in the respiratory system by trapping inhaled particles and protecting the lungs from harmful substances. However, excessive production and accumulation of mucus can obstruct airways and lead to respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and asthma. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) and breathing exercises have been suggested as non-pharmacological interventions to help clear the mucus in the lungs.

 

Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT) is a form of exercise that targets the respiratory muscles, including the diaphragm, intercostals, and accessory muscles. RMT is known to improve respiratory muscle strength and endurance, respiratory function, and reduce dyspnea in people with respiratory diseases (Kohler et al., 2018). A study conducted by Raghavan et al. (2019) found that RMT significantly reduced mucus production and improved mucus clearance in patients with COPD. The study reported that RMT improved cough effectiveness, which facilitated mucus clearance and reduced sputum volume in patients with COPD. Another study conducted by Suh et al. (2016) investigated the effects of RMT on respiratory muscle strength and mucus clearance in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The study found that RMT significantly increased respiratory muscle strength and improved mucus clearance in patients with SCI, which suggests that RMT could be used as an effective intervention for mucus clearance in patients with respiratory diseases.

 

Breathing exercises are another non-pharmacological intervention that has been suggested to clear mucus in the lungs. Breathing exercises aim to improve respiratory function, enhance oxygen delivery to the lungs, and help clear mucus in the airways (Reis et al., 2019). Deep breathing exercises, for instance, have been shown to improve ventilation and lung function and help clear mucus in the lungs (Lum et al., 2020). A study conducted by Boden et al. (2015) investigated the effects of deep breathing exercises on mucus clearance in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The study found that deep breathing exercises significantly improved mucus clearance and reduced sputum volume in patients with CF. Another study conducted by Hassan et al. (2020) investigated the effects of the active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) on mucus clearance in patients with COPD. The study found that ACBT significantly improved mucus clearance and reduced sputum volume in patients with COPD, which suggests that breathing exercises could be used as an effective intervention for mucus clearance in patients with respiratory diseases.

 

In conclusion, mucus clearance is essential for maintaining respiratory function and preventing respiratory diseases. Respiratory muscle training and breathing exercises have been suggested as non-pharmacological interventions that can help clear mucus in the lungs. The evidence suggests that RMT and breathing exercises can improve respiratory muscle strength, enhance ventilation, and improve mucus clearance in patients with respiratory diseases. However, further research is needed to investigate the optimal frequency, duration, and intensity of these interventions for mucus clearance in different patient populations.

 

References:

Boden, C., Drescher, S., Jörres, R. A., & Schönhofer, B. (2015). Deep breathing exercises with positive expiratory pressure in patients with cystic fibrosis--a pilot study. Respiratory care, 60(12), 1717-1723.

 

Hassan, S. S., Abidin, Z. U. Z., & Majeed, A. B. A. (2020). The effect of active cycle of breathing