Effects of elastic tape on thoracoabdominal mechanics, dyspnea, exercise capacity, and physical activity level in nonobese male subjects with COPD

Abstract

Subjects with severe and very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) present thoracoabdominal asynchrony(TAA) that reduces ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity. However, no therapeutic intervention has focused on reducing TAA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of elastic tape(ET) on thoracoabdominal mechanics, dyspnea symptoms, exercise capacity, and physical activity level in non-obese male subjects with severe to very severe COPD. Methods: This crossover, randomized trial included non-obese males with severe to very severe COPD. ET was placed on the chest wall and abdomen to reduce TAA. Subjects were evaluated at 3 hospital visits, each seven days apart. At visit 1, thoracoabdominal kinematic and pulmonary ventilation were evaluated simultaneously by optoelectronic plethysmography and electrical impedance tomography, both at rest and during isoload exercise testing. At visit 2, a cardiopulmonary exercise test(CPET,10W/min) was performed until exhaustion. Between the visits, subjects used physical activity monitor(PAM) for 7 days (at least 5 days of measurement; 10h/day). At visit 3, all the tests were repeated in the opposite order of the previous randomization. Results: During the isoload exercise, subjects with ET presented lower tidal and minute volumes(p=0.01) and reduced TAA(p=0.02) and dyspnea(p=0.04). During the CPET, subjects with ET presented an increase in VO2peak(l/min and ml/kg/min;p=0.01), test duration(p=0.009) and maximal load(p=0.03). Moderate and vigorous physical activity(MVPA), which was assessed by the PAM, was also increased in subjects with ET(p=0.01). ET reduced TAA and dyspnea and increased exercise capacity and the duration of MVPA in non-obese male subjects with severe to very severe COPD.

Objectively Measured Physical Activity as a COPD Clinical Trial Outcome

“…A cross-over trial compared PA (as secondary outcome) during a week with and without thoracoabdominal region elastic taping in non-obese male COPD patients 56 . During elastic taping patients spent more time in MVPA (117±75 vs 89 min/week; p<0.05) and a lower proportion of sedentary time (76±10 vs 80±9; p<0.05).…”

An uncoordinated effort: A new mechanism of exercise intolerance in fibrotic interstitial lung disease

“…In patients with COPD, respiratory muscle training with eucapnic hyperpnoea resolved TAA resulting in improved dyspnoea, oxygen desaturation and exercise capacity. 8 In another study, 9 elastic tape over the rib cage and abdomen (with consideration of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique and internal intercostal muscles) of patients with COPD led to decreased TAA and improved exercise tolerance. Whether such training or mechanical binding of the chest and abdomen possesses utility in patients with fILD-recognizing the differences in pathophysiology between fILD and COPDare lines of inquiry worth pursuing.…”