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Background & aim: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the most common respiratory diseases. Due to limitation of breathing; especially on exhalation, shortness of breath, mostly on exertion is the main complaint of these patients, which in turn leads to a decrease in functional capacity and physical activity during daily life activities. Breathing exercises, pulmonary rehabilitation along with drug therapy, are foundation treatments. However, one of the obstacles of rehabilitation programs is the discrepancy between therapeutic measures and social-cultural aspects of patients' personal lives that decrease the success rate of programs in long term. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of reciting the Quran by tartil as a culture-based breathing exercise on functional capacity of patients with COPD. Methods: The study was a prospective case series study done on a group of COPD patients referring to an outpatient respiratory clinic. They were enrolled in the study voluntarily with consideration of ethical codes. They were stable but had imitation in daily activities due to exertional dyspnea. The study was commenced on 2021/04/14 and terminated after six weeks. The subjects recited as much as Ayat of Yassin every day by tartil. Forced Expiratory Lung Volume in first second (FEV1) and 6-minute walk distance test were measured before and after the study. Results: In order to carry out this study, eight COPD patients participated. The mean age was 66.38 ± 12.00 years, ranging from 42 to 83. Participants included three women and five men. Mean FEV1 increased at the end of study from 1.58 ± 0.76 to 1.36 ± 0.46. (P = 0.002). The distance on six-minute walk distance test (6 MWT) increased from 310.60 ± 71.43 meters to 356.25 ± 85.72 meters significantly (P = 0.002). The subjects perceived their shortness of breath decreased during 6 MWT at the end of study. The score decreased from 5.5 ± 1.5 to 4.5 ± 1.5 (P = 0.007) Conclusion: Our preliminary results showed that reciting the Quran by tartil, which is compatible with religious culture, can increase the functional capacity of COPD patients. In reciting, the expiratory time and flow are adjusted to produce Quranic sounds. This might in turn reduce lung hyperinflation and air trapping. These changes cause an increase in the functional capacity of patients in terms of six-minute walk distance. In addition, a higher motivation of patients to perform such practical and functional exercises guaranties efficiency of such pulmonary rehabilitation in long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Application of standard field tests for measurement of the physiological abilities of elite athletes, clinical conditions and/or diseases rehabilitations, can be as an outstanding tool for cardiorespiratory fitness evaluation. The aim of this study was to evaluate validity and reproducibility of the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) in healthy children and adolescent boys. Subjects and Methods: Actual peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured in modified Buruce protocol with gass exchange analysis in 349 healthy boys (8-17 yrs). Six- minute walk distance (6MWD) and anthropometric variables were measured with standard methods. Pearson correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to assess concurrent validity and reproducibility of the 6MWT respectively. Results: Concurrent validity of the 6MWT was confirmed by good correlation between 6MWD and VO2peak (r=0.638, p<0.001). Using partial correlation controlling for age, this correlation increased (r=0.733, p<0.001). Reproducibility of the 6MWT was demonstrated by ICC of 98% in first and second 6MWT (687±77 and 700±78 and mean diff : 14 m respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study about validity and reproducibility of the 6MWT in Iranian boys. With application of the 6MWT, physicians, physical therapists exercise coaches will receive a simple, inexpensive and safe assessment tool to evaluate functional exercise capacity in healthy and sick children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]