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Continuous Chest Wall Vibration in COPD Rehabilitation

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
COPD
Interventions
Other: Cycle ergometer training
Other: Airway clearance program
Device: Vibration therapy
Device: Sham vibration therapy
Registration Number
NCT03644888
Lead Sponsor
Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus
Brief Summary

Dyspnea, the sensation of breathing discomfort or shortness of breath, is one of the main symptoms for patients affected by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), particularly during exercise. Previous study show that chest wall vibration decrease dyspnea in COPD patients and precisely when applied during the inspiration phase, called "in-phase vibration" (IPV) which provide vibration directly on intercostal muscles. These findings have been obtained in laboratory context and the intercostals muscles vibration has been tested only in single phases of breathing, during inspiration with IPV and during exhalation with out-of-phase vibration (OPV). None study has evaluated the effect of a continuous chest wall vibration (CCWV), namely muscles vibration during the whole cycle of breathing, on dyspnea in patients with COPD in a clinical context. Continuous high frequency vibration has been proven to reduce myoelectrical manifestation of fatigue, probably modifying the centrally driven motor unit recruitment hierarchy, in healthy subjects.

Moreover, CCWV is a modality of provide vibration more suitable and cost-effective in a clinical context than single-phases vibration that requires specific instruments for the detection of breathing phases and the coupling with vibration device.

On these bases, the investigators hypothesized that CCWV at high frequency, applied during a cycle ergometer training program, could decrease dyspnea and enhance the exercise tolerance in COPD patients. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of high frequency CCWV on dyspnea and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD patients compared to usual care and to sham intervention.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria
  • COPD diagnosis (GOLD stage: 2-3-4)
Exclusion Criteria
  • Restrictive lung disease
  • Active pulmonary infection
  • Pulmonary embolism (less than 3 months)
  • Pneumotorax
  • Thoracic/abdominal operation (less than 3 months)
  • Myocardial infarction (less than 6 months)
  • Congestive heart failure/ heart failure/ right heart failure
  • Angina/severe angina
  • Incapability of perform the cycle ergometer training (e.g. orthopaedic or urogenital conditions)
  • Incapability to understand the intructions required to carry out the tests and assessments planned

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Experimental groupVibration therapyCycle ergometer training program plus application of vibration therapy. The vibration is provided at 150Hz via 4 effectors applied bilaterally at the second or third interspaces in the parasternal region of the upper chest wall and at the seventh to ninth interspaces anterior to the midaxillary line in the lower chest wall.
Control groupAirway clearance programCycle ergometer training program: 2 minutes warm-up at no load, 20 minutes at 60% of peak work (PW) calculated by stress-test or at 50% of PW calculated according to Luxton equation (PW = 103.217 + (30.50 X gender) + (-1.613 X age) + (0.002 X 6MWW \[m kg -1 \]). The progression of the workloads is calculated according to the BORG Dyspnea and Fatigue Scale (Borg D and F \< 5: 10W increase; Borg D and/or F between 5 e 6: maintain same workload; Borg D and / or \> 6: 10W decrease) Patient tailored airway clearance program guided by an experienced respiratory physical therapist, which could includes active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT), forced expiratory technique (FET), ELTGOL (slow expiration with glottis open in the lateral position) and PEP techniques (positive expiratory pressure).
Sham intervention groupSham vibration therapyCycle ergometer training program plus application of sham vibration therapy: 4 effectors on chest-wall at same position of vibration therapy, the device that produces vibration is switched on, producing the typical noise and vibration is emitted by effectors not placed on the patient but left in place on the device.
Control groupCycle ergometer trainingCycle ergometer training program: 2 minutes warm-up at no load, 20 minutes at 60% of peak work (PW) calculated by stress-test or at 50% of PW calculated according to Luxton equation (PW = 103.217 + (30.50 X gender) + (-1.613 X age) + (0.002 X 6MWW \[m kg -1 \]). The progression of the workloads is calculated according to the BORG Dyspnea and Fatigue Scale (Borg D and F \< 5: 10W increase; Borg D and/or F between 5 e 6: maintain same workload; Borg D and / or \> 6: 10W decrease) Patient tailored airway clearance program guided by an experienced respiratory physical therapist, which could includes active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT), forced expiratory technique (FET), ELTGOL (slow expiration with glottis open in the lateral position) and PEP techniques (positive expiratory pressure).
Experimental groupCycle ergometer trainingCycle ergometer training program plus application of vibration therapy. The vibration is provided at 150Hz via 4 effectors applied bilaterally at the second or third interspaces in the parasternal region of the upper chest wall and at the seventh to ninth interspaces anterior to the midaxillary line in the lower chest wall.
Experimental groupAirway clearance programCycle ergometer training program plus application of vibration therapy. The vibration is provided at 150Hz via 4 effectors applied bilaterally at the second or third interspaces in the parasternal region of the upper chest wall and at the seventh to ninth interspaces anterior to the midaxillary line in the lower chest wall.
Sham intervention groupAirway clearance programCycle ergometer training program plus application of sham vibration therapy: 4 effectors on chest-wall at same position of vibration therapy, the device that produces vibration is switched on, producing the typical noise and vibration is emitted by effectors not placed on the patient but left in place on the device.
Sham intervention groupCycle ergometer trainingCycle ergometer training program plus application of sham vibration therapy: 4 effectors on chest-wall at same position of vibration therapy, the device that produces vibration is switched on, producing the typical noise and vibration is emitted by effectors not placed on the patient but left in place on the device.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of exercise toleranceChange from Baseline exercise tolerance at 4 weeks

Six Minutes Walking Test. This test assesses distance walked over 6 minutes as a sub-maximal test of aerobic capacity/endurance.

Higher values represent a better outcome

Change of DyspneaChange from Baseline Barthel Index based on dyspnea at 4 weeks

Barthel Index based on dyspnea. The scale measures the level of dyspnea perceived in performing basic daily living activities, Range: 0 - 100 Higher values represent a worse outcome

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of Risk of deathChange from Baseline risk of death at 4 weeks

BODE Index.

Is a multidimensional 10-point grading system that predicts the risk of death from any cause and from respiratory causes among patients with COPD. It is composed by subscales, combined to compute a total score as follows:

FEV1 (% of predicted): 0 (≥65); 1 (50-64); 2 (36-49); 3 (≤35). Distance walked in 6 minutes (m): 0 (≥350); 1 (250-349); 2 150-249); 3 (≤149). MMRC dyspnea scale:0 (0-1); 1 (2); 2 (3); 3 (4). Body-mass Index: 0 (\>21); 1 (≤21).

Range: 0-10 Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (higher risk of death)

Change of Sympatho-vagal balanceChange from Baseline sympatho-vagal balance at 2 weeks and at 4 weeks

Heart Rate Variability

Change of respiratory muscles strengthChange from Baseline respiratory muscles strength at 4 weeks

Maximum inspiratory pressure / Minimum expiratory pressure.

Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) are global measures of maximal strength of respiratory muscles and they are respectively the greater pressure which may be generated during maximal inspiration and expiration against an occluded airway. The way to measure maximal respiratory pressures is very simple, using a hand-held mouth pressure meter in cmH2O.

Higher values represent a better outcome

Change of Health-related quality of lifeChange from Baseline health-related quality at 4 weeks

Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire. Is a self-reported, disease-specific, health-related quality of life questionnaire.

Range: 0 (no health impairment) - 100 (maximum health impairment).

Higher values represent a worse outcome

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus - Centro Ettore Spalenza

🇮🇹

Rovato, Brescia, Italy

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