Abstract
Objectives: Emphysema is a condition of lungs characterized by permanent dilatation of air spaces distal to terminal bronchioles with destruction of wall of this airways. Nearly associated with chronic bronchitis but different from it to a large extent. Emphysema is a common problem in both male and female population due to
environmental and biological changes, ill habits, and so on. Effective treatment protocol includes only sedatives and bronchodilators but up to restrictions, thus most effective protocol is still lacking, this study is intended to find out an (effective treatment to normalize the V.C.) for treating emphysema in longterm or permanently through
physiotherapy means both manually and mechanically: a comparative study. Methods: A sample of 30 subjects including both males and females of age group 30–55 years, as per inclusion and exclusion criteria, from SSSMC, Dr. K.K. B.M. Subharti Hospital, Dehradun and CSS Hospital, Meerut, were included in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The subjects were assessed forced expiration by lungs in a particular time and measured for their forced expiratory volume of lungs, vital capacity and then asked to perform the Romson’s Respirometer Exercise, Purse Lip Breathing Exercise and Chest Physiotherapy. The values of forced expiratory volume of lungs and vital capacity of the subjects were documented. Results: The data of both Groups (A and B), revealed the mean scores of forced expiratory volume and the vital capacity of lungs on 1st, 4th and 10th day. The mean scores of forced expiratory volume of lungs [F.E.V. 1] of Group A, was 1.5074 ± 0.5121, 1.8111 ± 0.5010 and 2.3740 ± 0.5151 and vital capacity of lungs [V.C.] was 3.0259 ± 0.3514, 3.1630 ± 0.3260 and 3.4259 ± 0.2930 on day 1st, 4th and 10th. The paired “t” test was applied to test the significant difference between 1st & 4 day and 4th & 10th day. A significant p - Value of < 0.001* was found when the comparison was done with the mean score of forced expiratory volume and the vital capacity of lungs on 4th and 10th day. Which shows the significant improvement in Emphysematous subjects. The mean scores of forced expiratory volume of lungs [F.E.V. 1] of Group B was 1.7037 ±
0.4792, 2.3674 ± 0.4236 and 2.9204 ± 0.3123 and vital capacity of lungs [V.C.] was 3.1296 ± 0.2524, 3.5481 ± 0.2376 and 4.0352 ± 0.2311 on day 1st , 4th and 10th. The paired “t” test was applied to test the significant difference between 1st & 4th day and 4th & 10thday. A significant p - Value of <0.001* was found when the comparison was done with the mean score of forced expiratory volume and the vital capacity of lungs on 4th and 10th day. Which shows the significant
improvement in Emphysematous subjects. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is significant improvement in the forced expiratory volume [F.E.V. 1] and vital capacity of lungs [V.C.] values in both the Groups - (A and B). Group - A receive chest physiotherapy (vibration+percussion+coughing) and Romson’s respirometer while Group - B receive receives chest physiotherapy (vibration+percussion+coughing) and pursed lip breathing.
Keywords: Forced expiratory volume [F.E.V. 1]; Vital capacity [V.C.]; Romson’s respirometer.