EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPIRATORY MUSCLE TRAINING VERSUS RESPIRATORY PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION ON PULMONARY FUNCTION PARAMETERS AND FUNCTIONAL TOLERANCE AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TR

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD is a progressive respiratory illness characterized by limited exercise capacity, respiratory muscle dysfunction and limitation in airflow that is destructive in nature. These symptoms greatly reduce quality of life. Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) and respiratory Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) have become common rehabilitation strategies, yet comparative evidence is scarce. The randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effect of respiratory PNF & IMT on pulmonary function & functional exercise capacity in stable COPD subjects. A total of forty patients with GOLD Stage II and III COPD between the ages of 45 and 60 were randomized into two groups. Group A received IMT using a threshold device at 30% of maximal inspiratory pressure, while Group B received respiratory PNF techniques. Both interventions were administered for 20 minutes, three times daily, over four weeks. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1) and Six-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD) were some of the outcome measures used. All the end results showed significant improvements in both groups (p < 0.001). However, when looking at FEV1 (p < 0.001), FVC (p = 0.012), FEV1/FVC ratio (p = 0.013) and 6MWD (p < 0.001), the PNF group performed much better than the IMT group. These results imply that respiratory PNF may be more efficient than IMT in enhancing pulmonary function and functional exercise capacity in COPD patients.