Participants receive manual therapy protocol session three times a week for 12 weeks. The manual therapy protocol session lasts 30 minutes and included of the following manual therapy techniques: suboccipital decompression, gliding of the cervical vertebral articulations in the anterior/posterior direction, myofascial release of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, gliding of sternoclavicular joint in the anterior/posterior direction, myofascial release of intercostal muscles and paravertebral muscles, diaphragmatic release, rib raising, mobilization of scapulothoracic joint, and gliding of the thoracic vertebral articulations in the anterior/posterior direction. And all participants receive inspiratory muscle training.

Participants receive only inspiratory muscle training by using Threshold Inspiratory Muscle Training device. Training load is 40% of the measured maximum inspiratory pressure, weekly. Participants receive inspiratory muscle training session for 30 min-per day, 7 days per week, for 12 weeks.

Manual therapy technics

Before the pulmonary function test, all subjects rested to avoid fatigue. The lung function test including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and vital capacity (VC) was performed in a seated position using a portable spirometer according to the American Thoracic Society guidelines.

For respiratory muscle strength, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were evaluated using an electronic pressure transducer. MIP was measured at residual volume, and MEP was measured from total lung capacity.

6 minute walk test (6MWT) was applied to measure exercise capacity. The patient's heart rate, breathing frequency, and oxygen saturation were monitored with the pulse oximeter, and the values were recorded before and after the test. The distance was expressed both as metres.

Dyspnea perception was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale, Levels of dyspnea are graded 0 (absence of dyspnea during strenuous exercise), to 4 (dyspnea during daily activities).

Fatigue perception was assessed with Turkish version of Fatigue Severity Scale. A high score indicates increased fatigue intensity and the maximum score of the scale is 63.

Quality of life was measured using the Turkish version of St.George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). It is a specific quality of life questionnaire for respiratory diseases. SGRQ consists of three subscale and 50 items; symptoms (8 items), activities (16 items), effects of the disease (26 items). Each subscale is scored ranging from 0 to 100 points. High scores indicate that worsened the quality of life.