A randomized controlled trial of respiratory physiotherapy in lower respiratory tract infections

Physiotherapy may play a role in the recovery of signs, symptoms and function of patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) but its effectiveness is still controversial.

To assess the effects of respiratory physiotherapy compared with standard pharmacological care on symptoms and function in outpatients with LRTI.

Single-blind, randomised controlled trial.

Outpatients were recruited from the casualties of a central hospital.

Outpatients with LRTI were recruited and randomly allocated to the control (pharmacological) or experimental (pharmacological and respiratory physiotherapy) group.

The intervention consisted of conventional pharmacological treatment and conventional pharmacological treatment plus respiratory physiotherapy. Respiratory physiotherapy included breathing and airway clearance techniques, exercise training and education during 3-weeks, 3 times per week.

Primary outcome measures - occupation rate of wheezes Wh%; Secondary outcome measures - number of crackles, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) modified Borg scale (mBorg), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity, and volume and density of the lung and bronchial tree volume.

Ninety-seven patients (53 controls and 44 experimental) completed the intervention. After the intervention, both groups improved significantly in all variables (0.0001 < p < 0.04; 0.001<ƞ²<0.092), with the exception of the mBorg. The magnitude of improvement of the experimental group exceeded the control group in the number of crackles, SpO2 levels, mMRC and 6MWT (0.002 < p < 0.032; 0.002<ƞ²<0.092).

Adding respiratory physiotherapy to the pharmacological treatment of outpatients with LRTI results in greater recovery of symptoms and function parameters.

NCT02053870.