Osteopathy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Rehabilitation Trial

Osteopathic Treatment May Improve Exercise Capacity in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The purpose of this trial is to verify if an osteopathic treatment added to usual pulmonary rehabilitation trial is able to improve the walking ability of COPD patients and if there is any influence on lung functionality.

The investigators decided to perform an osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in a population of COPD patients. OMT was defined as the therapeutic application of manually guided forces by an osteopathic practitioner to improve physiologic function and/or support homeostasis that has been altered by somatic dysfunction. Concerning the respiratory system, osteopathy considers a model that describes the interdependent functions among five body components as follows: 1: the inherent motility of the brain and spinal cord; 2: fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid; 3: mobility of the intracranial and intraspinal membranes; 4: articular mobility of the cranial bones; 5: the involuntary mobility of the sacrum between the ilia. This model is the so called primary respiratory mechanism.

The examination was performed by osteopathic practitioners with emphasis on the neuromusculoskeletal system including palpatory diagnosis for somatic dysfunction and viscerosomatic change, in the context of total patient care. The examination was concerned with range of motion of all parts of the body, performed with the patient in multiple positions to provide static and dynamic evaluation.

The treatment was done once a week for 4 weeks and lasted 30 minutes.The examination was done according to the following scheme: anamnesis; physical examination (evaluation of the posture, palpation, tests for passive and active motion of areas linked to altered respiratory function); cranic-sacral evaluation (by means of a palpation of the cranic-sacral mechanism).