ABSTRACT
To determine the efficacy of rib cage mobilization on lung function in COPD patients. This randomized control trial was carried out at Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi and Railway General Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan from sep. 2010 to sep. 2011. Sixty two patients were randomly placed into two groups, 35 in group A and 27 in group B. The inclusion criteria was at least one year history of COPD, altered Dyspnea index, and decrease FEV1/FVC ratio and the exclusion criteria was less than one year history of COPD, normal Dyspnea index and no change in FEV1/FVC ratio. All the patients were treated for three weeks and rib cage mobilization was applied in group A and deep breathing exercise in group B. The rib cage mobilization was applied in sitting and side lying position for 10[th] to 2[nd] ribs and in supine position for 1[st] rib. The Dyspnea index and FEV1/FVC ratio were used as assessment tools, and were calculated before and after the therapy intervention. The data was analyzed by SPSS v 20 and paired t- test was applied to calculate the probability at 95% level of significance. The rib cage mobilization increased FEV1/FVC ratio and Dyspnea index significantly [P=0.004, P=0.006] in group A, as compared to the deep breathing exercise in group B [P= 0.073, and P=0.083]. We conclude that rib cage mobilization had very effective role in increasing rib cage mobility and improve lung function in COPD patients