Effectiveness of Anthroposophic Speech Therapy in Patients With Asthma

Background

Breathing retraining techniques receive increased attention in the management of asthma, since the evidence for safety and usefulness of such procedures is growing. Physiotherapist-guided breathing programs, such as the Papworth method and the Buteyko method, are most systematically investigated and hence yield the best evidence of effectiveness.

Active breathing modulation techniques are frequently assigned to complementary and alternative medicine CAM, comprising of a variety of systems and modalities other than the politically dominant healthcare system.

However, patients may take a different perspective, since the prevalence of CAM use in the treatment of asthma is at a level of 20-30% among adults and 50 - 60% for children, even if rigorous estimates are being applied.

Anthroposophic therapeutic speech applies sounds and syllabic rhythm, e.g. the hexameter, for improving articulation, breathing and cardiorespiratory interaction. The method has been used for many years as a breathing retraining method for asthma in all settings. This study is the first to systematically investigate the effects of ATS in asthma patients in a real-life outpatient setting.

Objective

The following hypotheses are tested: i) anthroposophic therapeutic speech improves relevant parameters of pulmonary function in patients with asthma. ii) anthroposophic therapeutic speech reduces the use of as-needed medication in patients with asthma. iii) anthroposophic therapeutic speech improves asthma control and quality of life in patients with asthma.

Methods

The study is a randomised, controlled, multicentre, 2-period cross-over clinical trial conducted at 3 centres in Switzerland and Germany. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 allocation ratio to either firstly receive 11 speech therapy sessions or to wait (control), followed by a cross-over to the other group.

Inclusion criteria

• Signed informed consent
• Age ≥ 12 years
• Asthma ≥ 1 year
• Inhaling β2 agonist ≥ once weekly

Exclusion criteria

• Not willing to perform therapy actively
• Insufficient general condition for active therapy
• COPD
• Coronary heart disease
• Oral corticosteroids
• Pregnancy