The effect of manual therapy and exercise on age-related lung function: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether manual therapy combined with a 10-minute treadmill walking program could mitigate age-related declines in lung function and compare the effects of different manual therapy techniques.
Results Summary
The study compared walking alone (Ex) to walking combined with joint mobilization (MB + Ex) or manipulation (MT + Ex). Results focused on lung function, chest wall expansion, and quality of life, but specific outcomes for walking alone were not detailed in the abstract.
Population
Healthy males and females aged 50-65 with no history of respiratory disease.
Effective Dosage
10-minute treadmill walking program, administered six times over 3 weeks.
Duration
3 weeks (six sessions).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
manual therapy | increase | lung function | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | mitigate the effects of age-related changes | #1 |
manual therapy | increase | thoracic compliance | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | mitigate the effects of age-related changes | #2 |
joint mobilisation (MB) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MB + Ex) | neutral | lung function | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #3 |
joint manipulation (MT) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MT + Ex) | neutral | lung function | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #4 |
simple 10-min treadmill walking program (Ex) | neutral | lung function | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #5 |
joint mobilisation (MB) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MB + Ex) | neutral | chest wall expansion | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #6 |
joint manipulation (MT) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MT + Ex) | neutral | chest wall expansion | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #7 |
simple 10-min treadmill walking program (Ex) | neutral | chest wall expansion | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #8 |
joint mobilisation (MB) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MB + Ex) | neutral | quality of life measurements | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #9 |
joint manipulation (MT) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus treadmill walking program (MT + Ex) | neutral | quality of life measurements | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #10 |
simple 10-min treadmill walking program (Ex) | neutral | quality of life measurements | people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years | - | investigate whether there is a difference in effect | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Ageing is associated with a range of anatomical and physiological changes. Establishing whether a change is part of 'normal' ageing or the early signs of disease will affect management strategies. Progressive stiffening of the thoracic spine, decreasing chest wall compliance and declining lung function begin as early as 40 years of age. Administering an intervention such as manual therapy, which has the potential to mitigate age-related changes in the thoracic spine and chest wall, has the potential to improve thoracic compliance and lung function. The aims of this trial are to investigate whether manual therapy can mitigate the effects of age-related changes in lung function and whether there is a difference in effect between different forms of manual therapy. METHODS: The study design is a randomised controlled trial of 372 people with no history of respiratory disease between the ages of 50 and 65 years. The cohort will be divided into three equal groups. The first group will receive a simple 10-min treadmill walking program (Ex). The second group will receive joint mobilisation (MB) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus the same walking program (MB + Ex). The third group will receive joint manipulation (MT) of the thoracic spine and ribs plus the same walking program (MT + Ex). All interventions will be administered a total of six times over a 3-week period. The primary outcome measure is lung function: forced expiratory volume in the 1st second and forced vital capacity. The secondary outcome measures include chest wall expansion (tape measurements) and quality of life measurements (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). Outcome measurements will be taken by blinded assessors on four occasions over a 9-week period. Adverse event data will be gathered at the beginning of each intervention session. DISCUSSION: This randomised controlled trial is designed to investigate whether manual therapy can mitigate the effects of age-related changes in lung function and whether there is a difference in effect between different forms of manual therapy. This is the first fully powered trial designed to test this hypothesis on healthy males and females in this age range. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), 12616001317482 . Registered on 20 September 2016.