Evaluation of the Immediate Effects of Osteopathic Techniques on Plethysmographic Measurement of Residual Volume in Patients With Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive and not fully reversible airflow limitation in the bronchi.

Hyperinflation is one of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for shortness of breath in COPD patients. Hyperinflation may be assessed in body pletysmography in which residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC) are measured. These parameters are considered to precisely reflect the degree of hyperinflation. In patients with COPD, an increased breathing frequency, e.g. during exercise or disease exacerbation, leads to dynamic hyperinflation which further increases shortness of breath.

The treatment of COPD includes smoking cessation, drug therapy, home oxygen therapy and rehabilitation. The disease is chronic, progressive and ultimately leads to premature death, so every new therapeutic option is a point of interest. In the recent years, there have been a few reports on the positive effects of osteopathic techniques on pulmonary function tests in patients with COPD. Osteopathy is a new area of healthcare, in which manual techniques are used to assess neuro-musculoskeletal performance and to optimize its function.

STUDY OBJECTIVE the assessment of the influence of selected osteopathic techniques on RV in patients with COPD (III, IV degree of airway obstruction according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - GOLD).

MATERIAL