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.

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.

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.