| About fifteen million Americans require asthma | | | | showed hardly any difference between both |
| management through physiotherapy programs. | | | | groups. According to these results, chiropractors |
| There are several medical and physiotherapy | | | | cannot really help asthma patients with their |
| treatments which have been successfully | | | | treatments. |
| employed to manage asthma issues. Recently, | | | | Another study on chiropractic treatments was |
| there have been concerns raised over the use of | | | | also carried out. The progress of 81 asthmatic |
| some questionable treatment. | | | | children at a chiropractic clinic was followed. The |
| Some physiotherapy clinics insist asthma can be | | | | study showed that children undergoing the |
| controlled through physiotherapy programs. | | | | treatment had 45% fewer attacks and 30% of |
| Syptoms like breathlessness and wheezing can | | | | the children could reduce the amount of |
| apparently be alleviated by physiotherapy. | | | | medication they had to take to control their |
| Massages are also said to relieve the same | | | | asthma. Because of these two conflicting studies, |
| symptoms in both young and old patients. | | | | it is undetermined if chiropractic treatments are |
| Acupuncture has also been used as an alternative | | | | actually useful. |
| treatment method to alleviate asthma symptoms. | | | | For physiotherapists who want to continue in |
| Interestingly, this technique has actually been | | | | asthma management, there is a specialty |
| beneficial for asthmatics. | | | | certification. They can be trained to become |
| It has been proven that acupuncture boosts the | | | | Certified Asthma Educators and deal with patients. |
| immune system to fight diseases better. This is | | | | There services are paid for by Medicare and |
| an important criteria for asthma management. | | | | Medicaid. |
| Common colds or influenza only worsen an | | | | It has been propounded that asthma patients who |
| asthmatic's condition. Acupuncture, if it reduces | | | | have been hospitalized should undergo |
| the chances of catching a cold, is definitely | | | | physiotherapy. Asthma patients who were made |
| advantageous in such situations. However, | | | | to do motion exercises during their hospital stay, |
| acupuncture has yet not been accepted as a | | | | on average remained hospitalized three days |
| stand-alone treatment and is used only in | | | | fewer than patients who were not given |
| conjunction with other established methods of | | | | exercises. |
| asthma management. | | | | Traditional physiotherapy however faces a |
| There are other methods used by acupuncturists | | | | problem of dehydrating asthma patients. |
| in asthma management such as burning herbs | | | | Asthmatics can be seriously affected by |
| over the acupuncture points, giving the patient | | | | dehydration, which occurs faster for them. |
| specific massages, or using breathing exercises. | | | | Sometimes it may even induce an attack. As a |
| These treatments, again, have not been proven | | | | result, physiotherapists must keep this in mind |
| useful. | | | | when giving exercises. |
| Asthma treatments are also carried out by | | | | There are several methods available to treat |
| chiropractors who rely on spine manipulative | | | | asthma, and they may be valuable, but |
| methods. This treatment method has received | | | | physiotherapy also has a toe-hold in the field of |
| mixed responses. A study was carried out with | | | | asthma management. However, as long as they |
| two groups of asthma patients. One group was | | | | can't be proved useful, it is better to use |
| given fake manipulations, while the other group | | | | alternative methods in conjunction with traditional |
| was given actual spinal manipulations. The results | | | | management methods. |