Usefulness of respiratory physiotherapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

A study of therapeutic intervention was carried out in the department of pneumology of the polyclinic Omar Ranedo of Guantánamo from March 2010 to December 2011, with follow - up in 2014 to evaluate the usefulness of respiratory physiotherapy in 60 patients aged 45 and over, Of both sexes, with mild and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was compared the clinical manifestations, stages of COPD, spirometric values of forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV 1er second) and clinical evolution before and after the treatment based on scheduled tasks. Absolute number and percentage were used as a summary measure and percentage variation to compare before and after results. It was concluded that respiratory physiotherapy improved the clinical and spirometric evolution of the patients, so it was recommended to apply the scheduled tasks of respiratory physiotherapy in the alternative treatment in patients with mild and moderate COPD.