RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention in patients hospitalized due to community acquired pneumonia JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP PA4424 DO 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA4424 VO 48 IS suppl 60 A1 Valenza, Marie Carmen A1 Torres-Sanchez, Irene A1 Del Corral Núñez-Flores, Tamara A1 Navajas Gómez de Aranda, Juan Antonio A1 Rios-Sanchez, Ana A1 Rodriguez Torres, Janet YR 2016 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA4424.abstract AB Introduction: Hospitalization due to community acquired pneumonia has shown to imply a significant physical impairment in elderly patients. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a physical therapy intervention during the hospitalization of community acquired pneumonia patients .Methods: Randomized clinical trial. Patients admitted due to community acquired pneumonia were included. Patients were randomly divided. Control group received the standard medical treatment(SM), and intervention group received SM and a physical therapy. Physical therapy includes control breathing techniques, elastic bands and superimposed neuromuscular electrical stimulation in quadriceps muscles. The intervention was performed during the hospital stay of the patients. Quadriceps strength was evaluated with hand held dynamometry.Results: 36 patients with community acquired pneumonia were finally included in this study, the mean age was of 81.01±4.711 years, and BMI was of 28.35±2.86 kg/m2. Predicted FEV1 was of 51.9±25.52%, and predicted FVC of 57.78±28.61%.Intervention group (n=18)within group p valueControl group (n=18)within group p valueBetween groups p valueLower limb strength dominant leg (N)preintervention8.13±1.978.23±1.76postintervention9.65±1.94>0.001**7.38±2.660.1770.019*Lower limb strength non dominant leg (N)preintervention7.225±2.918.68±2.04postintervention8.53±2.340.009*6.94±1.910.002*0.062SD: standard deviation. *p<0,05; **p<0,001TABLE 1. Effectiveness of the physical therapy interventionConclusions: A physical therapy program during the hospitalization of patients with community acquired pneumonia improves significantly the lower limb strength.