Effects of Kinesiotaping Technique on Lung Function & Functional Capacity of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Patients

Effects of Thoracic Kinesiotaping on Pulmonary Function and Functional Capacity of COPD Patients

This study is designed to determine the effects of diaphragmatic kinesiotaping (KT) facilitation technique on pulmonary function, functional capacity and forward head posture of chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD) patients. The application of KT as an adjunct to conventional protocol in COPD patients if proven effective can enhance the symptom control in COPD patients for improving lung function, posture reducing the perception of dyspnea as well as improving functional capacity.

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2019 report defines Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders (COPD) as a "common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway or alveolar abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases". COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and will become the third leading cause of death and the fifth commonest cause of disability in the world. The airway obstruction in COPD cause mechanical disadvantage and increased respiratory work and dyspnea symptoms, limitations in exercise, and reduced Physical Activity Level. Patients with COPD experience muscle wasting particularly of skeletal muscle and also shortens the length of inspiratory muscles, particularly the diaphragm, resulting in functional muscle dysfunction and weakness which then results in a reduction in functional capacity, quality of life.

Different managements for COPD are provided in the literature, which includes bed rest, pharmacological therapy, oxygen therapy, and physical therapy. Physical therapy management include breathing exercises and early mobilization to restore or maintain muscle function in COPD stages. Kinesiotaping is relatively new band aid method used worldwide for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms. Kinesiotaping applied on certain region stimulate proprioceptive awareness and re educate the patient to adopt its normal posture during their normal life activity and thus normalize the muscles overactivity in the patients. KT is said to promote the respiratory muscle activation specifically the diaphragm muscle and also reduce the tension on muscle.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed patients of COPD falling in stage I-III according to The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria.
• GOLD 1 -mild: Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec (FEV1) ≥80%, GOLD 2 - moderate: 50% ≤ FEV1 <80% predicted and GOLD 3 - severe: 30% ≤ FEV1 <50% predicted
• Age between 40-70 years.
• Both genders
• Volunteering to participate in study

Exclusion Criteria:

• COPD exacerbation within last 4 weeks
• Allergic reaction to the taping material,
• Patients with recent chest wall trauma, surgery, deformity having scar, lesion, or incision in area of KT application.
• Uncontrolled arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
• Patients with neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary disease with physical impairment and history of psychiatric illness