RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A randomized controlled trial of respiratory physiotherapy for patients with LRTI
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP PA4427
DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA4427
VO 48
IS suppl 60
A1 Pires de Dias Marques, Alda Sofia
A1 Oliveira, Ana
A1 Ayoub, Rodrigo
A1 Neves, Joana
YR 2016
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA4427.abstract
AB The benefits of respiratory physiotherapy (RP) are well established in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, its effects in acute respiratory infections are unknown. This study assessed the effects of RP in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI).Patients were recruited from a hospital and randomly assigned to conventional care or to a community RP programme. Patients in the RP group received conventional care plus 9 sessions of RP which included breathing retraining, airway clearance, thoracic mobility/flexibility exercises and aerobic training. The 6 minute walk distance (6MWD), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the Modified British Medical Research Council scale for dyspnoeawere used as outcome measures. Repeated measures ANOVA and Mann Whitney U-tests, after pooling the differences between pre/post assessments, were used to compare groups.31 (54±17yrs) patients were enrolled in the control group and 22 (56±19yrs) in the RP group.After intervention, the RP group was significantly less limited in their activities due to dyspnoea (mMRC 0 vs. -1; p=0.040), presented higher oxygen saturation (SpO2 p=0.045; η2=0.076) and walked a longer distance (6MWD p=0.006; η2=0.137) than the control group The addition of RP to the usual care of patients with LRTI seems to be more effective than usual care only in improving patients' functionality and health status.