Background: Manual chest physiotherapy (MCP) techniques involving chest percussion, vibration, and shaking have
long been used in the treatment of respiratory conditions. However, methodological limitations in existing research
have led to a state of clinical equipoise with respect to this treatment. Thus, for patients hospitalised with an
exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), clinical preference tends to dictate whether MCP is
given to assist with sputum clearance. We standardised the delivery of MCP and assessed its effectiveness on
disease-specific quality of life.
Methods: In this randomised, controlled trial powered for equivalence, 526 patients hospitalised with acute COPD
exacerbation were enrolled from four centres in the UK. Patients were allocated to receive MCP plus advice on
airway clearance or advice on chest clearance alone. The primary outcome was a COPD specific quality of life
measure, the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at six months post randomisation. Analyses were by
intention to treat (ITT). This study was registered, ISRCTN13825248.
Results: All patients were included in the analyses, of which 372 (71%) provided evaluable data for the primary
outcome. An effect size of 0 3 standard deviations in SGRQ score was specified as the threshold for superiority. The
ITT analyses showed no significant difference in SGRQ for patients who did, or did not receive MCP (95% CI −0 14
to 0 19).
Conclusions: These data do not lend support to the routine use of MCP in the management of acute exacerbation
of COPD. However, this does not mean that MCP is of no therapeutic value to COPD patients in specific
circumstances.
Background: Manual chest physiotherapy (MCP) techniques involving chest percussion, vibration, and shaking have
long been used in the treatment of respiratory conditions. However, methodological limitations in existing research
have led to a state of clinical equipoise with respect to this treatment. Thus, for patients hospitalised with an
exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), clinical preference tends to dictate whether MCP is
given to assist with sputum clearance. We standardised the delivery of MCP and assessed its effectiveness on
disease-specific quality of life.
Methods: In this randomised, controlled trial powered for equivalence, 526 patients hospitalised with acute COPD
exacerbation were enrolled from four centres in the UK. Patients were allocated to receive MCP plus advice on
airway clearance or advice on chest clearance alone. The primary outcome was a COPD specific quality of life
measure, the Saint Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at six months post randomisation. Analyses were by
intention to treat (ITT). This study was registered, ISRCTN13825248.
Results: All patients were included in the analyses, of which 372 (71%) provided evaluable data for the primary
outcome. An effect size of 0 3 standard deviations in SGRQ score was specified as the threshold for superiority. The
ITT analyses showed no significant difference in SGRQ for patients who did, or did not receive MCP (95% CI −0 14
to 0 19).
Conclusions: These data do not lend support to the routine use of MCP in the management of acute exacerbation
of COPD. However, this does not mean that MCP is of no therapeutic value to COPD patients in specific
circumstances.
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