After-effects of thixotropic conditionings on operational chest wall and compartmental volumes of patients with Parkinson's disease

PLoS One. 2022 Oct 14;17(10):e0275584. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275584. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) present respiratory dysfunctions, mainly due to decreased chest wall expansion, which worsens with the course of the disease. These findings contribute to the restrictive respiratory pattern and the reduction in chest wall volume. According to literature, inspiratory muscle thixotropic conditioning maneuvers may improve lung volumes in these patients. The study aimed to determine the after-effects of respiratory muscle thixotropic maneuvers on breathing patterns and chest wall volumes of PD. A crossover study was performed with twelve patients with PD (8 males; mean age 63.9±8.8 years, FVC%pred 89.7±13.9, FEV1%pred 91.2±15, FEV1/FVC%pred 83.7±5.7). Chest wall volumes were assessed using OEP during thixotropic maneuvers. Increases in EIVCW (mean of 126mL, p = 0.01) and EEVCW (mean of 150mL, p = 0.005) were observed after DITLC (deep inspiration from total lung capacity) due to increases in pulmonary (RCp) and abdominal (RCa) ribcage compartments. Changes in ICoTLC (inspiratory contraction from TLC) led to significant EIVCW (mean of 224mL, p = 0.001) and EEVCW (mean of 229mL, p = 0.02) increases that were mainly observed in the RCp. No significant changes were found when performing DERV (deep expiration from residual volume) and ICoRV (Inspiratory contraction from RV). Positive correlations were also observed between the degree of inspiratory contraction during ICoTLC and EEVRCp (rho = 0.613, p = 0.03) and EIVRCp (rho = 0.697, p = 0.01) changes. Thixotropy conditioning of inspiratory muscles at an inflated chest wall volume increases EIVCW and EEVCW in the ten subsequent breaths in PD patients. These maneuvers are easy to perform, free of equipment, low-cost, and may help patients improve chest wall volumes during rehabilitation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Volume Measurements
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease*
  • Respiratory Mechanics
  • Respiratory Muscles
  • Thoracic Wall*

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (PGCI CAPES 054/2014 – 23038.007514/2014-78) awarded to GF, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (315580/2018-6) awarded to VR, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (312876/2018-1) awarded to GF, and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (PROCAD 2013 88881.068409/2014-01), awarded to GF. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.