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Thoracic Mobilization for Restrictive Lung Disease

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Effects of Thoracic Mobilization and Conventional Respiratory Therapy on Cough Capacity, Dyspnea, and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Restrictive Lung Disease

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07012733
Enrollment
24
Registered
2025-06-10
Start date
2025-06-09
Completion date
2025-12-26
Last updated
2025-06-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Restrictive Lung Disease

Keywords

thoracic mobilization, pulmonary function, cough capacity, dyspnea, restrictive pulmonary disorder

Brief summary

This study aims to investigate the immediate effects of thoracic mobilization techniques on cough capacity, dyspnea, and pulmonary function in patients with restrictive lung disease. The intervention will be applied in a single session, and outcomes will be measured before and after the intervention to evaluate short-term physiological changes.

Detailed description

Restrictive lung disease (RLD) is characterized by reduced lung compliance and limited thoracic mobility, leading to decreased lung volume and impaired respiratory function. Manual therapy interventions such as thoracic mobilization have been proposed to improve chest wall flexibility and enhance respiratory efficiency. However, few studies have examined the immediate clinical effects of such interventions in RLD patients. This single-group pre-post interventional study will evaluate the short-term outcomes of thoracic mobilization techniques on cough capacity (as measured by peak cough flow), dyspnea (via Borg scale), and pulmonary function (forced vital capacity \[FVC\], forced expiratory volume in 1 second \[FEV1\]). The results are expected to provide preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of thoracic mobilization for improving respiratory performance in individuals with RLD.

Interventions

Participants in this group will receive thoracic mobilization techniques in addition to conventional respiratory therapy. Thoracic mobilization will be delivered by a licensed physical therapist using passive manual techniques targeting the thoracic spine and rib cage to improve chest wall mobility and respiratory function.

OTHERconventional therapy

Participants in this group will receive conventional respiratory therapy, including diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, and chest expansion exercises. The therapy will be administered by a licensed physical therapist following standard pulmonary rehabilitation protocols.

Sponsors

Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment to minimize detection bias during post-intervention evaluations

Intervention model description

This is a randomized, parallel-group clinical trial comparing thoracic mobilization techniques to conventional respiratory therapy in patients with restrictive lung disease.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 19 years or older * Currently receiving respiratory therapy at C Hospital in Sejong City * Pulmonary function test indicating restrictive pattern: FVC \< 80% and FEV1/FVC ≥ 70% * FVC above the lower limit of normal (LLN) for age and sex * Diagnosed with restrictive lung disease, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, scoliosis, or neuromuscular disorders (e.g., myopathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)

Exclusion criteria

* FEV1/FVC ratio \< 70% * Evidence of airway obstruction on pulmonary function testing

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pulmonary function testImmediately before and immediately after intervention on Day 1Pulmonary function will be assessed using a standard spirometry test, including FVC and FEV1. The test will be conducted by a trained technician according to ATS/ERS guidelines to evaluate respiratory function.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cough peak flowImmediately before and immediately after intervention on Day 1Cough peak flow will be measured using a peak flow meter. Participants will be instructed to perform a maximal voluntary cough following a deep inspiration, and the highest value from three trials will be recorded. The assessment will be conducted by a trained therapist to evaluate cough capacity.
DyspneaImmediately before and immediately after intervention on Day 1Dyspnea will be assessed using the modified Borg scale, a subjective rating scale ranging from 0 (no breathlessness) to 10 (maximum breathlessness). Participants will rate their perceived level of dyspnea at rest following the intervention. The assessment will be administered by a trained therapist.

Countries

South Korea

Contacts

Primary ContactJungwoo Shim, PT, PhD Candidate
sjw0812@naver.com+82 10-2509-6107

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026