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

01

8

1211

7

54

01

8

5

10

3

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

ICFb440 ICFb445 ICFb450 ICFb455 ICFb460 ICFd455 ICFd460 ICFd910

Item code

Disa

bilit

y co

unt

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 SwedenConflicts of Interest: None disclosed. 

Dharma Foundation of India