EFFECT OF MUSCLE ENERGY TECHNIQUE (MET) OF ACCESSORY INSPIRATORY MUSCLE ON PULMONARY FUNCTION AND FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE CAPACITY IN PATIENT WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD) – AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

METs are a type of manual therapy designed to improve joints mobility, stretching tense muscles and fascia, improving blood circulation and relieving pain. Thus, the present study was designed to compare the effectiveness of MET with that of traditional Conventional Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) in restoring lung function and overall functional ability in patients suffering from COPD. 34 patients having COPD had enrolled as subjects and were randomized into 2 groups: Group A received both MET and CPT, and Group B received CPT alone. The intervention was done for three weeks for both groups. Pre-intervention and post-intervention pulmonary function tests such as FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR, chest expansion, and Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) were carried out for outcome measures. Group A had a statistically greater improvement compared with Group B for all the measured outcomes. Improvement in lung function, chest expansion, and walking distance were noted in the group receiving MET plus CPT.Thus, it may be concluded that MET along with conventional chest physiotherapy is an effective procedure for enhancing lung function and improving physical agility in patients with COPD.