title: Effect of chest wall vibrations on pulmonary function in chronic bronchitis.
abstract: Manual chest wall vibration is one physiotherapeutic technique frequently employed in the management of respiratory disease. A clinical study was undertaken to examine the effects of manual chest wall vibrations on pulmonary function and arterial oxygen saturation in patients with chronic bronchitis. Twelve patients participated in a three-day experimental design where the factors of three different days and three different treatments were randomized and balanced. On one day, deep-breathing exercises were given; on another, deep-breathing exercises with vibrations; and on the remaining day, no treatment was given. Lung volumes were measured before and after each maneuver, and arterial oxygen saturation was monitored continuously. There was a significant decrease in the expiratory reserve volume (ERV) immediately following the deep-breathing exercises alone, which remained constant after the 15-minute rest period (p = 0.032). The remaining outcome parameters do not appear to be significantly affected. Chest wall vibrations do not decrease the ERV in patients with chronic bronchitis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005105:Expiratory Reserve Volume; D005260:Female; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D012115:Residual Volume; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen