title: Effects of a respiratory physiotherapy session in patients with LRTI: a pre/post-test study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of respiratory physiotherapy (RP) in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) has been questioned. However, studies have focused on hospitalised patients, and the presence/absence of an underlying disease has been neglected.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of a RP session in community patients with LRTI and to explore the differences between patients with pneumonia (restrictive disease - AR) and those with exacerbations of an obstructive disease (AO).
  
  
  METHODS
  A pre/post-test study was conducted. A RP session was applied to patients with LRTI and crackles, wheezes, dyspnoea, perception of sputum and oxygen saturation were collected pre/post session. Comparisons were performed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients (14 males, 55.23 ± 17.78 years) with pneumonia (AR, n = 12), exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute bronchitis and asthma (AO, n = 18) were enrolled. After treatment, the total sample presented lower wheeze rates at trachea (P = 0.02; r = -0.54) and less sputum (P = 0.01; r = -0.47). AR patients presented a decrease in the number of crackles (P < 0.05; 0.30 < dz< 0.26) and number and rate of wheezes at chest locations (P < 0.05; -0.56 < r < -0.48). AO patients showed an increase in the number of crackles (P < 0.05; 0.20 <dz<0.31), wheeze frequency (P = 0.03; r = -0.27) and dyspnoea (P = 0.04; r = -0.55); and a decrease in the number of wheezes at trachea (P = 0.02; r = -0.54).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RP seems effective in reducing wheezes and perception of sputum in patients with LRTI. However, when considering AR and AO diseases separately, further changes in respiratory sounds and dyspnoea emerged. This highlights the importance of considering subgroups of patients with LRTI to develop RP evidence-base practice.
authors.affiliation: Lab 3R - Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Lab 3R - Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal.|IT - Aveiro, Instituto de Telecomunicações, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cátia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.affiliation: Lab 3R - Respiratory Research and Rehabilitation Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro (ESSUA), Aveiro, Portugal.|Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000639:trends; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: acute obstructive - acute restrictive - computerised respiratory sounds - physiotherapy