Background: It is Difficult for older adults to avoid a decreased in pulmonary functions caused by aging, and these reduced functions have been shown to affect not only the quality of life, but also the rate of disease and mortality. Although massage therapy is generally applied as a treatment method for improving the musculoskeletal system, massage is also studied as a potential intervention for lung function as a complementary treatment method. Objectives: To determine the effects of massage and relaxation breathing exercise applied after a low-intensity walking exercise on pulmonary functions in older individuals. Design: Quaxi-experiment study. Methods: Twelve day care elderly were divided into a massage group (n=6) and a relaxation breathing exercise group (n=6). After performing low-intensity walking exercise twice for 7 weeks, massage intervention and relaxation breathing exercise intervention were performed, respectively. PEF, FEV1, and FVC were measured by performing lung function tests pre- and post the intervention. Results: As a result of this study, PEF and FVC were significantly increased in the pre- and post-group comparison of MG, and there was no significant difference in FEV1. There were no significant differences in all variables in the pre-post comparison of RBEG within groups. There was no significant difference in all variables in the comparison between the two groups on the intervention results. Conclusion: To conclude, pulmonary functions in older adults increased significantly after the massage intervention, although no significant difference was found in comparison to intervention with relaxation breathing exercise.

본 연구는 호흡마사지법으로 생체에너지(기) 순환을 고찰하고자 하였다. 수 천 년 전부터 자연과의 조화를 통해 깨달음을 얻은 선조들은 자연호흡법으로 기에너지의 생성과 승강운동조절을 통하여 무병장수 하였으며, 춥고 배고픈 시절에 복부의 소중함을 체험한 할머니는 부드러운 약손으로 생명의 바다인 복부를 통해 질병을 치유해 주셨다. 이처럼 자연호흡과 할머니의 부드러운 약손의 감성인식 및 동양의학의 핵심내용인 기일원론(氣一元論)의 바탕으로 배꼽호흡테라피가 형성되었다. 자연호흡과 약손 마사지로 기 에너지의 생성과 승강운동을 통하여 복부를 다스려 자연계와 인체내·외의 동태적 평형상태를 유지시킴으로써 몸과 마음의 변화를 가져와 자연스럽게 질병을 치유하여 신체의 항상성을 유지시켜주는 자연치유법이라 할 수 있다. 배꼽호흡테라피를 적극 활용될 수 있는 실무 확산의 계기를 마련하고, 이를 통해 과학적인 임상연구 실무적용에 널리 활용될 것으로 기대한다.