Manual Therapy in Patients With Asthma

Effects of Manual Therapy in Patients With Asthma

Physical therapists have traditionally included various forms of manual therapy among the therapeutic approaches to respiratory conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diaphragmatic stretching technique on pulmonary ventilation, rig bage excursion and spirometric values in patients diagnosed with asthma.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Diaphragm stretching; Other: Placebo

Detailed Description

Asthma is a chronic lung disease involving an inflammation and a narrowing of the airways. Asthma causes wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing.

A variety of manual therapies are commonly used to treat patients with asthma. There is a need to conduct studies in order to examine the effects of manual therapies on clinically relevant outcomes. Techniques aim to increase movement in the rib cage and the spine to try and improve the working of the lungs and circulation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Granada, Spain, 18071
    • Faculty of Health Sciences. University of Granada

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 45 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ranging between 18 and 45 years.
• Diagnosis of asthma.
• No exacerbations during last month.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of spine surgery.
• Diabetes, neurological or a cardiovascular disease.
• Spine deformities and use of orthopedic devices.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Diaphragm stretching; 30 Patients with asthma are included in this group. They will receive a diaphragm stretching technique	Other: Diaphragm stretching; The therapist stands behind the patient and passes his hands around the thoracic cage, carefully introducing fingers under the costal margins. The patient slightly rounds the trunk in order to relax rectus abdominis. During the exhalation of the patient the therapist grasps the lower ribs and costal margin and eases the hands caudally. This traction was maintained during 5-7 minutes.; Other Names: Manual therapy
Placebo Comparator: Placebo group; Ultrasound disconnected in same position and with the same duration.	Other: Placebo; The same therapist, patient position and duration of the technique, but using disconnected ultrasound; Other Names: Disconnected ultrasound.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Forced vital capacity	The amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking the deepest breath possible. It is going to be measured using a spirometer as recommended by the American Thoracic Society.	Baseline, 7 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Abdominal Kinematics	Abdominal kinematic measurements can be used as an evaluative method to quantify possible alterations in abdominal movements.	baseline, 7 days
Airway diffusing capacity	The airway diffusion capacity will be measure using the deep breeze device. This is a non-invasive and radiation-free gadget that provides a dynamic image of the lungs, delivering both structural and functional information.	baseline, 7 days
Forced expiratory volume in the first second	This is the amount of air which can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs in the first second of a forced exhalation. It is going to be measured using a spirometer as recommended by the American Thoracic Society.	baseline, 7 days
Rib cage excursion	Rib cage excursion can be used as an evaluative method for diaphragmatic breathing excursion to quantify possible alterations in thoracic capacity and chest wall compliance as achieved by all expiratory and inspiratory muscles	baseline, 7 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Granada

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): October 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 22, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 26, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): January 28, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 4, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 3, 2015
• Last Verified: December 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stretching, diaphragm, asthma, manual therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Asthma
• Other Study ID Numbers: DF0046UG