A randomized controlled trial of respiratory physiotherapy in lower respiratory tract infections

Abstract Introduction Physiotherapy may play a role in the recovery of signs, symptoms and function of patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) but its effectiveness is still controversial. Objectives To assess the effects of respiratory physiotherapy compared with standard pharmacological care on symptoms and function in outpatients with LRTI. Design Single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Setting Outpatients were recruited from the casualties of a central hospital. Participants Outpatients with LRTI were recruited and randomly allocated to the control (pharmacological) or experimental (pharmacological and respiratory physiotherapy) group. Intervention The intervention consisted of conventional pharmacological treatment and conventional pharmacological treatment plus respiratory physiotherapy. Respiratory physiotherapy included breathing and airway clearance techniques, exercise training and education during 3-weeks, 3 times per week. Main outcome measure Primary outcome measures - occupation rate of wheezes Wh%; Secondary outcome measures - number of crackles, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) modified Borg scale (mBorg), modified Medical Research Council scale (mMRC), 6-min walk test (6MWT), forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity, and volume and density of the lung and bronchial tree volume. Results Ninety-seven patients (53 controls and 44 experimental) completed the intervention. After the intervention, both groups improved significantly in all variables (0.0001  Conclusion Adding respiratory physiotherapy to the pharmacological treatment of outpatients with LRTI results in greater recovery of symptoms and function parameters. Trial registration NCT02053870.