Symptoms
- Recurrent wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Coughing (especially at night or early morning)
- Exercise-induced symptoms
Common causes
- Allergens (dust, pollen, pet dander)
- Respiratory infections
- Exercise (exercise-induced asthma)
- Cold air
- Air pollution and irritants
- Stress and strong emotions
How physiotherapy helps
Treatment includes Buteyko breathing method, nasal breathing training, aerobic conditioning, education on trigger management, and warm-up strategies to reduce exercise-induced symptoms.
Exercises your physiotherapist may give you
- Buteyko breathing exercises
- Nasal breathing practice
- Gradual aerobic conditioning (swimming is ideal)
- Yoga breathing exercises (pranayama)
- Interval training with adequate warm-up
- Core and posture exercises for optimal breathing
Please note: start these exercises only after an assessment, and stop if pain increases. Your physiotherapist will choose the right exercises, number of repetitions and progression for you.
Guide written by the physiotherapists of CAPT – Centre for Advanced Physiotherapy, MVM Educational Trust. For more reading, search MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).