Manual Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

August 26, 2015 updated by: Rodrigo Torres, University of Chile

The Effect of Soft Tissue Manual Therapy Intervention on Lung Function in Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a Proof of Concept Study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation that is associated with an inflammatory response to noxious particles or gases.

Manual therapy (MT) has been defined as a therapeutic intervention that uses the hands to provide treatment to the musculoskeletal and/or visceral systems. It includes techniques such as massage, myofascial release, muscle energy technique, ligament balance, joint mobilization and joint manipulation. The suggestion that MT could deliver long-term benefits to people with COPD was first put forward in 2009. Since then a number of small studies have reported medium term improvements in lung function and exercise capacity following repeated applications of MT intervention.

Our aim is to measure the immediate effect on lung function of a single application of soft tissue manual therapy in patients with severe and very-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable disease characterized by progressive airflow limitation that is associated with an inflammatory response to noxious particles or gases.

Changes in the anatomy of the airways and lung parenchyma occur as the result of bronchial hypersecretion and bronchoalveolar instability which cause expiratory flow limitation and air trapping. This is known clinically as dynamic hyperinflation. The phenomenon leads to an increase in expiratory reserve volume, residual volume and functional residual capacity, also referred to as end expiratory lung volume. These increases limit tidal volume and inspiratory reserve volume eventually affecting inspiratory capacity. They alter the position of the ribs causing a state similar to sustained inspiration over time, often referred to as 'inspiratory block'. This phenomenon is responsible for the characteristic 'barrel chest' commonly seen in patients with more advanced stages of COPD. In this state the position of the diaphragm is flattened and shortened reducing its ability to generate force. Accessory respiratory muscles are recruited as a compensatory adaptation leading to shortening and over-activation of these muscles over time (over-adaptation). The surrounding cervicothoracic fascia contracts producing postural changes such as anterior projection of the head, neck hyperextension, increased thoracic kyphosis and internal rotation of shoulders. These changes contribute to an increase in chest tightness, a decrease in the ability to generate inspiratory pressures and volumes and an increase in the amount of effort required to breath.

Manual therapy (MT) has been defined as a therapeutic intervention that uses the hands to provide treatment to the musculoskeletal and/or visceral systems. It includes techniques such as massage, myofascial release, muscle energy technique, ligament balance, joint mobilization and joint manipulation. The suggestion that MT could deliver long-term benefits to people with COPD was first put forward in 2009. Since then a number of small studies have reported medium term improvements in lung function and exercise capacity following repeated applications of MT intervention.

Our aim is to measure the immediate effect on lung function of a single application of soft tissue manual therapy in patients with severe and very-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

We recruitment patients with COPD in Rehabilitation Program in Hospital San José de Santiago de Chile, and we assessment: total lung capacity (TLC); vital capacity (VC); residual volume (RV); expiratory reserve volume (ERV); inspiratory capacity (IC); and airway resistance (Raw). Secondary: heart rate (HR); respiratory rate (RR); and oxygen saturation (SpO2).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
9

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Chile
    • Metropolitan Región
      • Santiago, Metropolitan Región, Chile, 8380239
        • Department of Physical Therapy, University of Chile

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of severe or very severe COPD (GOLD: Stage III or IV)
  • Medically stable with no exacerbations in the preceding two months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A rheumatoid condition
  • Neuromuscular or musculoskeletal pathology
  • Cognitive disability that could influence their understanding or execution of the assessment tests or intervention protocol
  • Supplemental oxygen dependency
  • Previous or current enrollment in other pulmonary rehabilitation program

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Soft Tissue Manual Therapy Protocol
Soft tissue manual therapy protocol. Seven techniques of manual therapy in 30 minutes.
Procedure: Soft tissue manual therapy protocol
The STMTP consisted of a pre-determined set of seven (7) soft tissue techniques delivered as part of a single treatment session lasting approximately 30 minutes. The techniques and their respective durations were: suboccipital release (5 minutes), anterior thoracic myofascial and sternum release (5 minutes), anterior cervical myofascial release (5 minutes), costal ligament balance (5 minutes) and muscular energy technique (MET) to the following muscles - scalenes (1 minute and 40 seconds), pectoralis minor (1 minute and 40 seconds) and latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior (1 minute and 40 seconds)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Lung Capacity
Time Frame: 30 minutes
Units in ml
30 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vital Capacity
Time Frame: 30 minutes
Units in ml
30 minutes
Residual volume
Time Frame: 30 minutes
units in ml
30 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Chile

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Roger Engel, PhD, Macquarie University, Australia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 26, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 26, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 28, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 28, 2015

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 26, 2015

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KIN2012-1

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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