Effect of elastic tape on the thoracoabdominal kinematics in moderate to very severe individuals with COPD: a crossover study

<bold>Background:</bold> Individuals with moderate to very severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) presents Thoracoabdominal Asynchrony (TAA) that reduces ventilatory efficiency and exercise capacity. The Elastic Tape (ET) is a novel and low-cost intervention that might reduce TAA. <bold>Aims:</bold> To investigate the impact of air trapping in TAA and the effect of the ET on the thoracoabdominal kinematics of individuals with moderate to very severe COPD. <bold>Methods:</bold> Pulmonary function test was assessed by body plethysmography. Individuals were randomly assessed, and thoracoabdominal kinematics was performed with or without ET. Thoracoabdominal kinematics was evaluated by optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) at rest and during isoload exercise (25% of peak workload). OEP assesses total chest wall volume that is divided into superior (ST) and inferior thoracic (IT), and abdominal (ABD) volumes. TAA was quantified using the phase shift method. <bold>Results:</bold> Twenty-five men (FEV1, 42±12%pred), aged 66±7 years, eutrophic (BMI, 24±3 kg/m2), and having air trapping (residual volume, RV=182±59 %pred) were enrolled. There were association between TAA in ST vs. IT and air trapping (RV%pred) at rest (r=0.48; p<0.05), and during exercise (r=0.51; p<0.05). ET reduced tidal volume (78ml [95%CI: 27–129]) during exercise compared to without ET. In addition, 64% of individuals with COPD reduced TAA between ST vs. IT during exertion with ET compared to without ET (7.4 [95%CI: 1.8 – 12.9] vs. -0.16 [95%CI: -8.5 – 8.2]; p=0.01). <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our results suggest that air trapping is associated with TAA and that ET reduces TAA and improves ventilatory efficiency during exercise.