Lung Exercises for Asthma: 3 Techniques to Improve Breathing

It’s well known that consistently exercising target muscles can build muscle mass and improve muscle strength. The same is true for your lungs—just like aerobic exercise improves heart function and muscle strength, performing lung exercises can improve lung function and efficiency.¹

For medical conditions such as COPD and asthma, these practices work by reducing excess stale air. This, in turn, increases oxygen levels and the diaphragm's efficiency.¹ For people who live with chronic lung conditions such as asthma, breathing is everything. When used alongside a doctor-prescribed asthma treatment plan, regular lung exercises give the lungs a little extra endurance when faced with daily triggers.

Understanding lung exercises for asthma

It’s common for people with asthma to wonder, “Do lung exercises really help?” Studies have shown that incorporating specific lung exercises can help asthmatics improve their overall quality of life. Researchers concluded that “breathing exercises should be offered to all asthma patients with symptoms or impaired quality of life despite standard treatment.”²

Three effective types of lung exercises used by pulmonary rehabilitation specialists and other medical professionals include pursed-lip breathing, belly/diaphragmatic breathing, and the Papworth method.^2,3

Pursed lip breathing

This simple exercise involves breathing in normally through the nose, then breathing out for at least twice as long through the mouth with pursed lips.

How it helps: Pursed lip breathing reduces the number of inhalations and has been shown to keep the airways open for a longer period of time.¹

Tip: Counting to 4 while exhaling can help the breath go out slowly.

Belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing)

Have you ever really paid attention to where, in your body, your breathing comes from? It might also surprise you to learn that you can train your breath to come from another part of your body.

Belly breathing, also known as diaphragmatic breathing, encourages the body to breathe from the area around the diaphragm—the dome-shaped muscle below the lungs—rather than from the chest.^1,2

How it works: To try belly breathing, either lie on your back with your knees bent and a pillow under your knees, or sit up straight in a chair. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other hand on your stomach. Similar to pursed lip breathing, inhale slowly through the nose and take twice as long to exhale through pursed lips. The goal of this exercise is for the hand on the belly to rise and fall while the hand on the chest remains still, retraining the diaphragm to take on the task of filling and emptying the lungs.^1,2

How it helps: Diaphragmatic breathing helps to strengthen the diaphragm, slow down breathing, and decrease the oxygen needs of the body.¹

The Papworth method

An older technique often included in lung exercises for asthma, the Papworth method has been used since the 1960s. It involves a combination of relaxation and breathing techniques.

How it helps: The Papworth method blends the benefits of belly breathing with stress reduction to ease breathing throughout the day. Studies show positive results in adults with asthma and demonstrate an ability to help control wheezing and respiratory symptoms.³

Studies are also ongoing regarding other varieties of lung exercises for asthma. These involve combinations of diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and relaxation techniques to assess their effectiveness in managing asthma symptoms.³

Tips for practicing lung exercises for asthma

Like all new routines, getting comfortable with lung exercises takes time and practice. Practicing for just 5 to 10 minutes a day can make a massive difference in improving your breathing throughout the day. With consistency, it can gradually become one of the most important parts of your morning routine.