The Effect of Manual Therapy Approaches and Inspiratory Muscle Training on Respiratory Parameters in Healthy Individuals With Hyperkyphosis

Hyperkyphosis, which is defined as a thoracic curvature higher than normal limits, is among the reasons that decrease chest wall mobility and lung function. In modern society, kyphosis in the thoracic vertebra increases with the increase in sitting time of people. It has been identified in studies that an increase in thoracic kyphosis and a decrease in the mobility of the thoracic region of the spine are associated with a decrease in respiratory functions such as Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1).

Manual therapy approaches consisting of different techniques (manipulation, joint mobilization and soft tissue mobilization) can be an effective approach to improve pulmonary function by increasing chest wall mobility. Manual therapy techniques applied to the thoracic region have been shown to cause a significant reduction in thoracic kyphosis. In a study, it has been shown that thoracic joint mobilization is effective in increasing FVC, FEV1 and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) in people with hyperkhyphosis and chronic neck pain. In addition, identified studies shows that manual therapy approaches applied to improve respiratory functions should include both the thoracic and cervical regions due to the relationship between cervical and thoracic spine movements.

Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) leads among the approaches used in the current literature to increase respiratory functions. There is important evidence that this technique which aims to increase the strength or endurance of the diaphragm and respiratory assist muscles activated during inspiration, improves respiratory function in the patient and healthy population. In the literature, there are studies examining the effects of IMT and manual therapy approaches on respiratory functions in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and smokers. In a study conducted on smokers, the effects of manual therapy added to the IMT program on maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and other respiratory parameters were examined and a significant increase in MIP was observed, but a significant increase in other respiratory parameters not observed. In another study, it was stated that the addition of manual therapy and therapeutic exercise protocol to IMT in asthmatic individuals was more effective than IMT in improving forward head posture and kyphotic posture.

Although the studies on the effects of using IMT and manual therapy techniques together in healthy individuals on respiratory functions are very limited in the literature, more acute effects were investigated in these studies. In this context, the aim of our study is to evaluate the cervical and thoracic region manual therapy approaches added to IMT and IMT program in healthy individuals with hyperkyphosis; It is the determination of the effects on respiratory function values such as FVC, FEV1, tiffeneau index (FEV1 / FVC) and PEF, forward head posture and hyperkyphosis.