Table 1

A comparison of the contents of the BTS 2011 asthma guidelines and the BTS/ACPRC 2009 guidelines1 3 and results of our updated search

BTS/ACPRC 2009			BTS 2011			Our search results
Terminology; intervention (s)	Level of evidence statements	Content and grades of recommendation	Terminology; intervention (s)	Level of evidence statements	Content and grades of recommendation	Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (no limits)	RCTs* PubMed (March 2006–Dec 2010)
Classified as physiotherapy interventions			Classified as complementary and alternative medicines/approaches
Breathing exercises in asthma	1++	A: for breathing exercises B: for suitable tools (e.g. anxiety measures)	Breathing exercises including yoga and the Buteyko breathing technique	n/p	B: for the Buteyko technique No recommendation provided for other breathing exercises	2004 (breathing exercises)	10
Buteyko breathing technique in asthma	1+	B (recommendation for)		n/p		2004 (breathing exercises)	2
Airway clearance techniques in asthma^† Airway clearance adjuncts/devices^‡	1−	Insufficient evidence to support or refute	Manual therapy including massage and spinal manipulation	n/p	n/p	2005	1
Physical training in asthma	1+	B; B; A (depending on the outcome measure; recommendation for)	Physical exercise training	n/p	n/p	2004	19
Inspiratory muscle training in asthma	1−	Insufficient evidence to support or refute

SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) key to evidence statements and grades of recommendations.
* Studies indexed as RCTs in PubMed.
↵† Clapping, vibrations, shaking (collectively termed manual therapies) and postural drainage, forced expiratory technique, directed coughing.
↵‡ PEP, oscillating positive expiratory pressure devices.
ACPRC, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care; BTS, British Thoracic Society; n/p, not provided; RCT, randomised controlled trial.