Effects of hot foot and arm bath in bronchial asthma: A single case report. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maheshkumar, K.; Pandiaraja, M.; Venugopal, V.; Poonguzhali, S.; Sundareswaran, L.
• Is Part Of: Foot. Volume 42(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Hot foot and arm bath -- Bronchial asthma -- Naturopathy -- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- Corticosteroids; Foot -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Foot Diseases -- Periodicals; Foot -- surgery -- Periodicals; Pied -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Pied -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Pied -- Lésions et blessures -- Périodiques; Foot -- Diseases; Foot -- Surgery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 617.585005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foot.2019.10.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0958-2592

Abstract

Highlights: Hot Foot and Arm bath (HFAB) is very effective in patient with asthma. Immediately after taking HFAB pulmonary function has improved effectively. This is the first study that assessed HFAB in patient with asthma to evaluate its effect on pulmonary function. Abstract: Background: Managing the condition of corticosteroid resistant asthmatic patients is quite difficult and challenging despite the plethora of new and modern medications. Hot Foot and Arm Bath (HFAB) is a widely used treatment modality for the management of bronchial asthma in Naturopathy. However, no scientific documentation or study is available so far assessing its effectiveness. Case summary: A 33-year-old male was admitted to our hospital, with major complaints of wheezing and dyspnea for two weeks before admission, with a known case of asthma and occasional use of inhalers. Spirometry tests showed a reversible obstructive pattern (pre-bronchodilator FEV1, 1.64 L; post-bronchodilator FEV1, 2.02 L; reversibility, 16%). The patient underwent HFAB application for 3 days in the morning, and the pulmonary function test was recorded before and immediately after HFAB. The pulmonary function's parameters such as FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, PEF 25–75 %, and PEFR showed significant improvement immediately after the HFAB on day 2 and day 3 when compared to day 1. Conclusions: The findings suggest that HFAB application has an immediate action on improving lung function in patients with bronchial asthma and could be used as effective adjuvant therapy for the management of bronchial asthma. This is the first case report on HFAB application for bronchial asthma and future extensive studies with a large population would validate our findings.