Effectiveness of Respiratory Physiotherapy in Children With Neuromuscular Disease

Background:

Many authors have demonstrated the efficacy of Physiotherapy in Respiratory attending respiratory difficulties associated with different types of pathologies (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, cystic fibrosis, tumors), however the investigators did not find studies with scientific evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of these programs in children with Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD), whose quality and life expectancy depends largely on the proper handling of Bronchial secretions and delay the deterioration of respiratory function.

The main objective of this study focuses on determining the effectiveness of physiotherapy for the treatment of respiratory breathing difficulties in children with NMD. Deducing other aspects such as the impact of this program on the number of visits to hospital emergencies department each year, hospital admissions and respiratory infections suffered by these children, and the need or not of antibiotics.

Material and method:

This research is an analytical, longitudinal, prospective, experimental, evaluator blinded study. It is controlled with two parallel groups, randomized clinical trial.

The sample consisted of children diagnosed with NMD. For the evolution of different variables spirometric test was used for variables related to the function respiratory, and a tracking sheet designed by the researchers to collect the number hospital emergency visits each year, as well as hospital admissions, respiratory infections and need of antibiotics. These assessments were made before and after the start of program and during every four months.

Patients were randomized to control or experimental group, no apply any Respiratory Physical Therapy treatment in subjects in the first group and performing a Respiratory Physical Therapy program in the second. This program was carried out once in week by the physiotherapist, and four times weekly at home, by family, during one year.