Abstract—Controlled breathing is included in the rehabilitation
program of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). This article discusses the efficacy of controlled
breathing aimed at improving dyspnea. In patients with
COPD, controlled breathing works to relieve dyspnea by (1)
reducing dynamic hyperinflation of the rib cage and improving
gas exchange, (2) increasing strength and endurance of the respiratory
muscles, and (3) optimizing the pattern of thoracoabdominal
motion. Evidence of the effectiveness of controlled
breathing on dyspnea is given for pursed-lips breathing, forward
leaning position, and inspiratory muscle training. All
interventions require careful patient selection, proper and
repeated instruction, and control of the techniques and assessment
of its effects. Despite the proven effectiveness of controlled
breathing, several problems still need to be solved. The
limited evidence of the successful transfer of controlled breathing
from resting conditions to exercise conditions raises several
questions: Should patients practice controlled breathing more in
their daily activities? Does controlled breathing really complement
the functional adaptations that patients with COPD must
make? These questions need to be addressed in further research.