Efeitos da técnica de inibição do centro frênico sobre o equilíbrio estático, força muscular respiratória e expansibilidade torácica em portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutriva crônica

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema, presenting intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary complications that lead to functional limitations. One of the treatment possibilities for the disease is manual therapy. Objective: To evaluate the effect of phrenic nerve inhibition technique on the postural control, muscular strength and expandability of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methodology: The research was conducted through a prospective longitudinal-type quantitative approach consisted of 34 people, performed in the laboratory of Biological Signs Studies (Biosignal) of the Federal University of Piauí in Parnaíba city state of Piauí. Individuals were included when presenting a medical diagnosis of COPD, age range between 60 and 84 years, not presenting neurological diseases and cognitive disability and not presenting traumas or having undergone spinal surgery. The procedures were conducted through clinical and anthropometric evaluation, evaluation of pulmonary function, cirtometry evaluation, postural control evaluation and breathing awareness and phrenic nerve inhibition techniques. Results: Twenty-one COPD subjects were evaluated, 08 were part of the physiotherapy conventional group and 13 of the manual therapy group plus 13 healthy individuals. The cirtometry baseline reached significance (p <0.01) after the application of the of phrenic nerve inhibition and breathing awareness techniques. In addition, the frequency range (50%) (p <0.04), average speed anteroposterior (p <0.01) and mediolateral (0.006) were higher in the COPD group when compared to the healthy elderly group. Conclusion: After the application of the phrenic nerve inhibition technique there was improvement of the expandability and individuals with COPD have shown impaired postural control when compared with healthy elderly.