Muscle Energy Techniques in patients with COPD: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background

Physiotherapy plays a major role in long-term management of COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 4-week muscle energy technique programme on pulmonary function measures, functional endurance capacity, chest wall mobility and ADLs in patients with COPD.

Method

A parallel-group, randomised controlled trial was adopted. 108 participants with COPD were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received MET interventions, three-times weekly for 4 consecutive weeks, while the control group continued with their standard medical treatment. The study is clinically registered (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04773860).

Results

Statistically significant improvements in pulmonary function (p < 0.001), chest measurements (p < 0.001) and ADLs (p < 0.001) were observed for participants in the intervention group when compared to baseline measures. Clinical but not statistically significant improvements in the 6MWT were also noted (p = 0.08), outcomes which were not observed in participants enrolled in the control group.

Conclusions

This study concludes that METs can be used as an adjunct with other non-pharmacological treatments for patients with COPD to help manage their shortness of breath, improve their respiratory function and hence, as a result, improve their activities of daily living.

Keywords:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• respiratory diseases
• mets
• manipulative therapy
• long-term management
• physiotherapy

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the participants who made this study possible.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from the University Research Ethics Committee (Reference number: UREC FORM V_15062020 6559) and the study was also registered in the Clinical register (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04773860).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Data availability statement

Raw data was generated at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta. Derived data supporting the findings of this study is being presented as supplementary material.

Additional information

Funding

The authors declare that no funding was involved for this study.