COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) makes it hard to breathe normally. COPD physiotherapy management is a supportive treatment that can improve breathing capacity, reduce symptoms, and improve the quality of life for its patients. This article explains how physiotherapy in COPD works.

Define Chest Physiotherapy for COPD

Chest Physiotherapy for COPD uses physical techniques to clear mucus, improve lung function, and strengthen respiratory muscles. It controls breathing and improves lung expansion through percussion and vibrations applied to loosen mucus. Your physiotherapist performs specific postures to enhance drainage of mucus in this therapy. 

The post treatment activities of this therapy builds endurance, muscle strength, and overall fitness so that you can live a normal life again. Now that you have understood what chest physiotherapy for COPD is, let’s understand its effectiveness before jumping on to its techniques, frameworks and other details.

3 Case Studies of Successful COPD Physiotherapy Management

Studies have proved chest physiotherapy to be beneficial for patients suffering from COPD. Chest physiotherapy for COPD not only improved their physical endurance and respiratory efficiency but helped them improve their quality of life. But it’s important to know that Physiotherapy in COPD is a complementary medical treatment.

Patients Started to Walk More

Chest physiotherapy for COPD patients experienced an increase in their walking distance by 38 meters during six-minute walk tests. Their cardiovascular endurance and muscle function became better that were once stopping them by creating fatigue and limited physical capacity when they walked.

Breathlessness Was Significantly Improved

Chest physiotherapy for COPD patients also showed a reduction in breathlessness levels, as measured by the Borg Scale by 0.9-point in scores. COPD patients often struggle with dyspnea (shortness of breath). So even if they experienced a small decrease, it significantly eased their daily discomfort.

Regained Confidence in Daily Life

Chest physiotherapy for COPD patients also showed a 0.2-point improvement on the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. The decrease resulted in a less exhausting lifestyle, enabling patients to maintain independence and perform physical tasks like climbing stairs, dressing, and household chores with ease.

Four Stages of Chest Physiotherapy for COPD

Just like the majority of the diseases, COPD chronic breathing problem also comes with levels of severity.

  • Stage 1-Mild COPD: Here lung function measures at least 80% of the predicted FEV1 value. It causes breathlessness, persistent coughing, and mucus production. 
  • Stage 2-Moderate COPD: Here lung function measures between 50% and 79% of the predicted FEV1 value. It causes shortness of breath during daily activities. Coughing and mucus production also increase. 
  • Stage 3-Severe COPD: Here lung function falls to 30–49% of the predicted FEV1 value. It makes breathing difficulties worse, leading to fatigue, confusion, and a reduced ability to perform basic tasks. 
  • Stage 4: Very Severe COPD: Here in this final stage, the lung function drops below 30% of the predicted FEV1 value. Breathing difficulties become life-threatening, and even minimal activity causes shortness of breath.

Benefit of Chest Physiotherapy for COPD

Before we move, it’s important to note that COPD physiotherapy ain’t for everyone. It’s only suitable for patients with moderate to severe COPD, individuals recovering from lung infections or surgery, patients with pulmonary fibrosis or bronchiectasis, or those experiencing frequent mucus buildup and shortness of breath. That’s why a good physician, like CMC’s PT in Abu Dhabi medical center, always performs an assessment to decide if they should go for chest physiotherapy for COPD patients.

In case the patient is allowed to undergo chest physiotherapy for COPD, here’s what this therapy brings to the table for them.

  • Airway Clearance through percussion and vibration to help loosen mucus.
  • Lung Expansion through exercises and positioning techniques to improve lung capacity.
  • Strengthens Respiratory Muscles through exercises to train the diaphragm and intercostal.
  • Reduces Breathlessness through pursed-lip breathing technique that reduces the feeling of short breath/
  • Boosts Physical Activity through stamina increasing physiotherapy programs like walking and cycling.
  • Improves Daily Life: through improving lung function to give patients independence and confidence in daily life.

Most Common COPD Physiotherapy Management Techniques

Below we talk about the techniques collectively to improve lung function, reduce symptoms, and enhance quality of life for COPD patients with chest physiotherapy care.

  • Diaphragmatic, Pursed Lip & Segmental Breathing 

Diaphragmatic Breathing is performed by engaging the diaphragm which helps patients increase lung capacity and improve oxygen exchange. Patients breathe deeply into their abdomen to get maximum air into the lower lungs. Another method, Pursed-Lip involves inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through pursed lips. It improves ventilation efficiency by slowing down the breathing and preventing airway collapse. 

Finally comes Segmental Breathing which targets specific areas of the lungs that don’t expand due to stiffness or mucus buildup. Therapists use gentle pressure and guidance to direct airflow to these regions to restore expansion and improve oxygenation.

  • Percussion, Vibration & Postural Drainage

This manual technique taps on the chest wall to loosen thick mucus in the lungs by coughing it out. Vibration is done through mechanical devices or hand movements to bring out mucus, reducing airway obstruction that causes trouble in breathing.

Postural Drainage uses gravity to bring out mucus from specific lung segments by positioning patients in various angles. As a result, the mucus flows toward larger airways where it becomes easy to come out through coughing or suctioning.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs

Hospitals often offer pulmonary rehabilitation programs for chest physiotherapy. These are more supervised group sessions, educational workshops, and home-based exercises that help with restoration of breath in three phases. The first one is the initial phase that lasts 4 to 6 weeks and includes physical activity and breathing techniques workshops. Then comes the Main Phase that lasts at least 4 months where patients are taught intensive exercises to build strength and endurance against short breath and mucus buildup. The Final Phase lasts 3 to 4 weeks and involves cycling and outdoor activities along with climatotherapy to make the patient ready to step into daily life with confidence.

Conclusion

In short, COPD physiotherapy improves lung function, reduces its symptoms, and enhances the quality of through breathing exercises, manual techniques, and pulmonary rehabilitation workshops. If you or a loved one needs physiotherapy management of COPD, reach out to CMC’s Physiotherapy Abu Dhabi, and we’ll assess the condition to incorporate professional physiotherapy into your treatment plan.

FAQs

Does chest physiotherapy work for COPD?

Yes. Physiotherapy management of COPD is a respiratory treatment that clears mucus in patients to improve their breathing.

What are physiotherapy exercises for COPD?

It includes:

  • Diaphragmatic breathing
  • Breathing exercises
  • Pursed lip breathing
  • Strength training
  • Aerobic exercise
  • Deep breathing
  • Stretching
  • Bicycling
  • Endurance exercise training
  • Exercising on oxygen
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation

How does PT help with COPD?

Physical therapists use professional techniques to help patients build breathing efficiency, increase activity tolerance, and reduce fatigue.

What do physiotherapists do for COPD?

They offer medically proven techniques to manage symptoms, improve breathing, and enhance quality of life based on individual needs and health conditions.

What to teach patients with COPD?

Shortness of breath comes with COPD that makes it hard to eat a balanced diet. Patients are provided a diet program to keep improving their fitness level, before and after chest physiotherapy.

What are the four stages of COPD?

Physiotherapy management of COPD is classified into mild, moderate, severe, and very severe stages. As their name suggests, the first one is basic while the last one is life-threatening. A physiotherapist understands these stages to provide you a treatment to manage symptoms and slow progression.