| Abstract |
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of chest wall mobilization on chest expansion and
pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: International electronic
databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Wiley Online Library, were searched for studies published between
March 2016 and February 2025. The search was limited to articles published in English. Two reviewers independently
screened the studies and extracted the data. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 (RoB
2.0). Owing to the heterogeneity of interventions and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was conducted instead
of a meta-analysis. Results: To examine the effects of chest wall mobilization in patients with COPD, seven randomized
controlled trials were reviewed. The interventions included manual therapy, respiratory muscle stretching, and breathing
techniques. Most studies reported improvements in chest wall expansion, maximum inspiratory/expiratory pressure, and
6-Min Walking Distance, with some exceeding the minimal clinically important difference. Furthermore, dyspnea improved
in some cases, whereas the Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second/Forced Vital Capacity showed inconsistent results.
Conclusion: Chest wall mobilization can be an effective factor in pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD,
contributing to improvements in chest wall mobility, respiratory muscle function, and exercise tolerance. However,
evidence on its effect on lung capacity measurement function remains limited. In future research, standardized
measurement methods and long-term follow-up studies will be warranted to more accurately determine the effects of
chest wall expansion. |