1. Introduction
1.SmartBreathe: Respiratory exercises
boosting the oxygenation of cells is one
of the most effective ways to normalize
health parameters, enhance abilities,
stabilize psyche and fight off stress as
well as psycho-emotional distress. The
Smart Breathe is used as a training
simulator for respiratory muscles to
form proper respiratory stereotype,
enhance physical endurance, increase
adaptation potential of the body,
improve resistance to adverse
environmental, weather and industrial
factors.
2.The International Classification of
Functioning, Disability and Health
(ICF): The ICF, provides a standard
language and framework for the
description of health and health-related
states. This model can be used to
underpin case planning, monitoring of
progress, and outcomes evaluation.
Using International Classification of Functioning to capture
effect of breathing exercise with SmartBreathe in community
dwelling elderly
Abstract There is a need to highlight the medical problems that are being faced by the elderly people in India, and explore the
strategies for bringing about an improvement in their community life. This research was designed to see the effect of an assistive
technology ,Smart Breathe on mobility status and community life of elderly in New Delhi, India. Evaluation based on the International
Classification of Functioning provides an appropriate theoretical base where the effect of a assistive technology like SmartBreathe can be
captured in terms of changes in functions. We concluded that the Smart Breathe device helped elders to improve sensations associated
with cardiovascular and respiratory functions, mobility and community life.
5 June 2015
Helsinki, Finland
Poster Number
First International Symposium: ICF education, 2015
Alakananda Banerjee ,Pankaj Kumar Sahi, Shilpa Kumar, Robins Kumar, Boris
Aranovich
Title
Methods & Materials
Acknowledgements or Notes
Results
Six physical therapists were trained on
protocol of breathing exercises with the
breathing device. Demographic profiles
of elderly were documented on the ICF
Checklist Version 1A .Elderly were
trained to use Smart Breathe in
groups. Subjects performed group
based breathing exercises and home
exercise program with Smart Breathe.
The duration of exercises was gradually
increased as per the protocol starting
from day 2 to week 8. Components of
Geriatric ICF core set (Fig. 2) were
assessed initially and at the end of
week 8. There were 5 components of
body functions and 3 components of
activities and participation.
Conclusions
We thank Max Super Specialty
Hospital and respect worthy elder
subjects of Varishtha Nagrik Kendra
Sansthan who made this study
possible.
In our study, we have devised a
respiratory muscle-strengthening
program using the Smart Breathe. The
device reinforced expiratory muscle
strength training by incorporating a
pressure threshold valve. This
respiratory muscle training helped in
reduction in dyspnoea and improvement
in cardio-vascular and respiratory
function.The respiratory device which
assisted in respiratory functions is
classified within the ICF as Products &
Technology under the contextual
component .Effect of device used by
elderly in the group based therapy was
captured as changes in functional
outcomes due to improvement in
respiratory and cardiac functions.
Improvement in feeling of dyspnoea
during various indoor and outdoor
activities, improved walking ability in
different locations and different kind of
surfaces and community life such as
social gathering, visit to markets and
temples etc. Social group gathering with
the same purpose of doing exercises
together along with a home exercise
program helped in healthy ageing. ICF
provides an appropriate theoretical base
for the Assistive technology (AT) context
and is useful for demonstrating the
impact of assistive technology like
Smart Breathe in respiratory functions
and community life in elderly. The ICF
framework has the potential of
facilitating the development of device-
specific causal models. It also may
contribute to developing a research
agenda for technology outcomes like
this study on SmartBreathe by
highlighting measures that need to be
developed.
The study illustrates significant
improvement in sensations associated
with cardiovascular and respiratory
functions, mobility status, and
community life of elderly.
ICF- Function and activity
3
0
1
8
12
11
7
5
4
0
1
8
5
10
3
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
ICFb440 ICFb445 ICFb450 ICFb455 ICFb460 ICFd455 ICFd460 ICFd910
Item code
Disabilitycount
WEEK 1
WEEK 8
Fig 4: Demographic profile
Fig 5: Disability count in number of elderly
in body function and activity participation
Fig 1: International Classification of
Functioning Model
Item code Description
b440 Respiration functions
b445 Respiratory muscle functions
b450 Additional respiratory functions
b455 Exercise tolerance functions
b460 Sensations associated with cardiovascular and
respiratory functions
d455 Moving around
d460 Moving around in different locations
d910 Community life
Fig 3: Smart Breathe device
Fig 2: Item codes selected from ICF Geriatric
Core Set
Funded by: Procator KB Sweden
Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Dharma Foundation of India