The effectiveness of chest vibration with simultaneous aerobic training in COPD

The effectiveness of chest vibration with simultaneous aerobic training in COPD

The aim of the Italian researchers was to investigate the effect of a 4-week standard pulmonary rehabilitation on dyspnea and physical functionality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), compared to the effects of the same treatment but combined with the administration of chest vibrations.

• There were no significant differences in the results of physical tests (6MWD) or dyspnea tests (BID) between the standard treatment and the standard treatment combined with vibration.
• However, only in the group of patients who received the vibrations, there was a significant improvement in the 6MWD scores, albeit with a moderate effect size (d = 0.58).

Prepared on the basis of:

Effectiveness of Continuous Chest Wall Vibration With Concurrent Aerobic Training on Dyspnea and Functional Exercise Capacity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pancera S, Buraschi R, Bianchi LNC et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Aug;102(8):1457-1464.

Study population

Of the 146 COPD patients, 40 were enrolled in the study.

Test procedure

The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups:

• control
• intervention (vibration)
• sham intervention (placebo vibration).

For 4 weeks, each patient performed 5 sessions of standard pulmonary rehabilitation per week. Each session included aerobic and resistance training or airway clearance techniques. In addition, patients regularly used prescribed medications and oxygen therapy during exercise.

The intervention group additionally received chest vibrations during aerobic training (during exercise on an ergometer), while the sham intervention group received sham vibrations (placebo).

Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and Barthel Index based on dyspnea (BID) were analyzed.

Use of vibration in the study

Chest wall vibrations were given for 20 minutes with a frequency of 150 Hz.

Results

There were no significant differences between the groups for 6MWD and BID. However, a statistically significant (P = 0.003) improvement was observed in the intervention group in the 6MWD test after combination therapy with vibration, albeit with a moderate effect size (d = 0.58).

Comment

Chest wall vibrations with aerobic training, as an adjunct to the standard pulmonary rehabilitation program of COPD, may improve physical functioning. However, in the presented studies, they did not affect dyspnea, respiratory muscle function or the quality of life.

More in: