COPDEffects of Thoracic Kinesiotaping on Pulmonary Function and Functional Capacity of COPD Patients

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2019 report defines Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorders (COPD) as a "common, preventable and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway or alveolar abnormalities, usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases". COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and will become the third leading cause of death and the fifth commonest cause of disability in the world. The airway obstruction in COPD cause mechanical disadvantage and increased respiratory work and dyspnea symptoms, limitations in exercise, and reduced Physical Activity Level. Patients with COPD experience muscle wasting particularly of skeletal muscle and also shortens the length of inspiratory muscles, particularly the diaphragm, resulting in functional muscle dysfunction and weakness which then results in a reduction in functional capacity, quality of life. Different managements for COPD are provided in the literature, which includes bed rest, pharmacological therapy, oxygen therapy, and physical therapy. Physical therapy management include breathing exercises and early mobilization to restore or maintain muscle function in COPD stages. Kinesiotaping is relatively new band aid method used worldwide for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorder symptoms. Kinesiotaping applied on certain region stimulate proprioceptive awareness and re educate the patient to adopt its normal posture during their normal life activity and thus normalize the muscles overactivity in the patients. KT is said to promote the respiratory muscle activation specifically the diaphragm muscle and also reduce the tension on muscle.