The impact of breathing exercise training of painters working in automobile paint industry on respiratory functions, functional capacity, sleep and life quality

In our study, we included the automobile painters having a higher risk of getting occupational respiratory diseases in a breathing exercise program. We have established a program giving energy protection recommendations regarding their daily and occupational life and aiming at providing individual breathing exercises. The aim of the study was to find the differences between the two groups of painters having breathing exercise training and the ones not having breathing exercise training in terms of respiratory functions, functional capacity, sleep and life quality and to ensure that the participants can take action against possible disease risks and inform them about occupational hazards. Seventy car painters between the ages of 18-63 participated in our study. Demographic information, occupational information, respiratory function tests, vital signs, 6-minute walking test, posture analysis and chest girth measurement of the participants have been recorded. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, The Short Form-36 Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory, Physical Activity Level (FIT Score), The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) have been applied. After the evaluation, the car painters were separated randomly into two groups. Pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing exercises were given to the study group in combination for 6 weeks; one exercise during the day was accompanied by a physiotherapist, and the other one was performed as a home-based program. After 6 weeks all results were re-evaluated. As a result of the study, it was seen that there were differences between two groups in terms of weight, BMI, FEV1 (%), FEV1/FVC (%), VC (%), MVV (%) values. Moreover, there were differences in heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory frequency values after 6-minute walking test. There were also differences in pain and social functionality values in the life quality section (p <0.05). It could be noted that the breathing exercise program leads to a positive change in breathing function tests and life quality of the participants. There is a need for long-term studies that will include the effects of hazardous factors such as dust etc. as well as the hazardous factors originating from paint and affecting the car painters for various aspects.