Chest Wall Muscle Stretching and Acute Effects in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chest Wall Muscle Stretching and Acute Effects on Volume Variation of Thoracoabdominal Wall and Electromyographic Activity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The study hypothesis is chest wall muscle stretching increase distribution of volume variation of thoracoabdominal wall and reduce electromyographic activity of respiratory muscles in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Randomized controlled trial involving patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease evaluated before and immediately after a program of stretching muscles of the rib cage or after resting with time similar to the intervention, as volume variation of thoracoabdominal wall by optoelectronic plethysmography and on the electromyographic activity of accessory muscles of respiration.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical and functional diagnosis of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD, 2009),
• forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) less than 80% predicted post-bronchodilator;
• clinical stability during the study,
• both sexes,
• age above 40 years,
• body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 29.9 kg / m²;
• smoking history,
• symptoms of cough,
• dyspnea or hypersecretion,
• ex-smokers for at least three months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Disease exacerbation for at least eight weeks,
• patients with other respiratory diseases,
• cardiovascular or osteoarticular and
• participants in pulmonary rehabilitation programs.