EFFECTIVENESS OF RESPIRATORY PHYSIOTHERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE

Abstract

 Objective: to determine the effectiveness of Physiotherapy for the treatment of respiratory difficulties in children with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). Material and method: this is a randomized controlled clinical trial, with two groups in parallel and blinded evaluator. The sample consisted in 14 children diagnosed with NMD. We used spiro-metric test to evaluate the variables and a tracking sheet to collect the number of hospital emergency visits each year, the hospital admissions, the respiratory infections and the need of antibiotics. These assessments were made before and after the program start and during every four months. Patients were randomized between control (CG) and experimental groups (EG), not to apply any treatment in subjects in the first group and carrying out a program of physical therapy in the second. It was held once a week by the physiotherapist, and four times a week at home, by the family, for one year. Results: the subjects of EG improved, compared to the CG, parameters of respiratory function, and scored better on the tracking sheet, showing statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: attending breathing difficulties in children with NMD through a Respiratory Physiotherapy program helps to improve or maintain respiratory function, compared to decline that occurs in subjects who do not receive such treatment. This pro-gram also achieves reduction in the number of respiratory infections and, secondarily, the need for antibiotics and the number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions related to these.