Influence of the Sternum Mobilization Technique on the Spirometry Data

Abstract

Introduction. Alteration of the mobility of the sternum, decrease of the external respiration functions are most often due to two groups of diseases: chronic obstructive lung disease and degenerative dystrophic diseases of the spinal column. Patients presenting degenerative dystrophic lesion of the spinal column often address to osteopaths and manual therapists. It is important to justify the most effective method of osteopathic correction in treatment of this type of patients.Research objectives. To evaluate the effectiveness of the sternum mobilization technique according to the lung capacity indices, peakfluorometric index, chest excursion.Research methods. Patients aged from 20 to 45 took part in the research. They were divided into two groups regardless of sex. There were 15 people in each group. All the patients had regional biomechanical disorder of the sternum from 1 to 3 points with predominant structural constituent and all of them complained of discomfort in the thoracic region. Osteopathic correction of patients from the first (experimental) group included sternum mobilization technique with the use of the recoil methods during the first and the second consultation. In the control group the sternum mobilization techniques were not realized. The evaluation of the treatment results was held on the basis of the analysis of the spirometry data. Indices of the chest excursion, lung capacity and peakfluorometric index were evaluated.Results. It was proven that the sternum mobilization technique is effective and demonstratively increases lung capacity and peakfluorometric index. At the same time the sternum mobilization technique is not effective in respect of the chest excursion volume.Conclusion. Sternum mobilization technique can be recommended for using in osteopathy and manual therapy in order to improve the restrictive lung function.