Laughter therapy found as effective as breathing exercises for COPD

A randomized clinical trial conducted in Türkiye has found that structured laughter therapy is as effective as traditional pursed-lip breathing for reducing breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The study, involving 63 participants at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, compared three groups: those practicing laughter therapy, those using pursed-lip breathing, and a control group performing no breathing exercises. The laughter protocol involved rhythmic clapping, vocal sounds, playful mimicry, and laughter meditation. Both active groups practiced their assigned techniques for 30 minutes, three times a week, over an eight-week period.

Results presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress indicate that the benefits of the laughter therapy remained present one month after the program concluded. Researchers noted that laughter therapy offers a low-cost, accessible, and equipment-free complement to existing COPD treatments that patients can perform at home.