Effect of manual diaphragmatic release on ventilatory function and quality of life in women with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) could lead to several respiratory dysfunctions, impairing quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of manual diaphragmatic release (MDR) added to aerobic training (AT) on ventilatory function, diaphragmatic motion, aerobic capacity, and quality of life, compared with AT alone, in women with RA.

METHODS

Eighty women with RA were equally assigned to either the MDR group, which received MDR and AT, or the control group, which received AT only, for 8 weeks. Outcomes included forced vital capacity (FVC) and total lung capacity (TLC), diaphragmatic motion, maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max), and the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RA QoL).

RESULTS

Analysis was conducted using ANCOVA. Relative to the controls, the MDR group showed significantly greater post-study FVC (mean difference (MD) = 3.99%; 95% CI: 1.14 to 6.83; p = 0.007), TLC (MD = 3.75%; 95% CI: 1.10 to 6.41; p = 0.006), diaphragmatic motion (MD = 7.5 mm; 95% CI: 1.11 to 9.89; p = 0.001), and Vo2max (MD = 5.02 ml/kg/min; 95% CI: 1.19 to 8.4; p = 0.01), along with a significantly lower RA QoL score (MD = -3.64; 95% CI: -5.39 to -1.9; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In women with RA, adding MDR to AT was more effective than AT alone in improving ventilatory function, diaphragmatic motion, aerobic capacity, and quality of life.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, prospective, NCT06716008.