Singing as Therapy for COPD

For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), optimal pharmacological therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation may not be enough to alleviate symptoms. Doctors and researchers are continually looking for new strategies to combat breathlessness, and one recent study has found an interesting and effective technique—singing.

To test this hypothesis, researchers from the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College in London performed a randomized, controlled trial in which participants completed singing classes twice weekly for six weeks. Participant experiences were assessed through interviews with a psychologist in addition to the survey of chronic respiratory conditions.

Results show that the singers’ physical abilities improved over the six weeks compared to the control group. This includes positive effects on physical sensation, general wellbeing, community/social support and achievement/efficacy as identified by participants in a post-study questionnaire. Researchers also identified a significant decrease in participant anxiety.

However, singing did not improve single breath counting, breath hold time or shuttle walk distance.

Overall, almost all the participants believed the workshops were very enjoyable and thought they taught them something about breathing in a different way. In fact, 81% of attendees felt a “marked physical difference” after the workshop.