Active Cycle of Breathing Technique Versus Breathing Exercises in Post COVID-19 Patients

Background: Post-ICU COVID-19 survivors frequently experience persistent dyspnea and impaired pulmonary function, creating a need for effective, scalable respiratory physiotherapy interventions (1,6,10). Objective: To compare the effects of Active Cycle of Breathing Technique (ACBT) plus breathing exercises versus breathing exercises alone on oxygen saturation and pulmonary function in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, enrolling 48 adults (18–50 years) with PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Participants were randomized by sealed envelope into Group A (ACBT + breathing exercises; n=24) or Group B (breathing exercises; n=24). Interventions were delivered once daily for 15–30 minutes, six days/week for two weeks. Outcomes included SpO₂ measured by pulse oximetry and spirometric indices (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC) measured at baseline and two weeks. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests with p<0.05 considered significant. Results: Post-intervention values favored Group A across SpO₂, FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC with statistically significant between-group differences (p<0.05), indicating superior improvement when ACBT was added to breathing exercises. Conclusion: Breathing exercises improved oxygenation and pulmonary function in post-COVID-19 patients, and ACBT provided additional benefit across key physiologic measures over a two-week rehabilitation period.