RESUMO
Twenty-two children were included in this study having pleural effusion mostly consequential to pneumonic affection and managed medically. They were subdivided into two groups: An experimental group including 12 children with mean age of 10.4 +/- 1.5 years, who received medical treatment and physical therapy and a control group comprising ten children with a mean age of 10.2 +/- 1.7 years, who received medical management only. For both groups, initial ventilatory function assessment was done before the start of treatment in the form of forced vital capacity [FVC] ml, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV] ml, maximum voluntary ventilation [MVV] l/min. And peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] l/min. The experimental group received physical therapy isokinetic training using low pulley, vertical chest/reverse fly and chest press/sated raw machines. This program was carried out for three times/week for six weeks, after which the same parameters of ventilatory functions were done. The results showed non significant changes in the control group after medical treatment and a significant improvement in the experimental group who received physical therapy. It can he concluded that physical therapy is safe and effective modality in the management of such cases