TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of respiratory muscle stretching on thoracoabdominal mechanics, functional capacity and dyspnea in COPD patients JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P3662 AU - Juliano Wada AU - Erickson Borges-Santos AU - Ronaldo Aparecido Silva AU - Desiderio Cano Porras AU - Denise Paisani AU - Cibeli Marques Silva AU - Alberto Cukier AU - Rafael Stelmach AU - Adriana Claudia Lunardi AU - Celso Ricardo Fernandes Carvalho Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3662.abstract N2 - COPD patients have an increased recruitment of inspiratory muscles predisposing to a chest wall incoordination, modifying thoracoabdominal mechanics and leading to poor exercise capacity and dyspnea. Aim: To assess the effects of respiratory muscle stretching on thoracoabdominal mechanics, functional capacity and dyspnea in COPD patients. Methods: 26 patients moderate to severe (63±6yrs, 25.8±3.4kg/m2, FEV1=44±13%Pred) were randomly allocated into Control (CG; n=12) or Treatment (TG; n=14) group. Both groups performed aerobic training during 24 sessions. In addition, TG received chest wall muscle stretching and CG peripheral muscle stretching. T test was used to compare the change (Δ=post–pre) between groups. Before and after intervention was evaluated: volume in the chest wall and each compartments (upper (Vuc) and lower chestwall (Vlc) and abdomen (Vabd)) using optoelectronic plethysmography and inspiratory muscle activation using surface electromyography during exercise. Expiratory flow limitation (EF), 6 minute walking test (6MWT) and dyspnea (Borg scale) were also assessed. Results: Compared to CG, TG presented an increase chest wall volume that occurred mainly due to increase in the Vabd (p=0.001) and also a reduction on recruitment of inspiratory muscle activation (p=0.006). TG also presented a clinically significant increase on 6MWT (25.4m) and a decrease on BORG scale (3 points) and EF when compared to CG (p<0,01). Conclusion: Respiratory muscle stretching increases the ventilatory capacity that was associated with a reduction on the respiratory muscle activity. An increase on functional capacity and reduction on dyspnea was also observed. ER -