EFFECTS OF A REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON POSTURAL CHANGES AND PAIN OF COPD PATIENTS

ABSTRACT To assess the influence of a rehabilitation program on postural changes and pain in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Eighteen patients diagnosed with COPD, male and female, aged 51-82 years (68.3±10.1 years) participated in the study. Anthropometric, postural assessments and pain assessments (prior and after) a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) were carried out. In the postural assessments, photographic records were performed in the anterior, posterior and right lateral views. The images were digitized according to the Postural Assessment Software (SAPO) procedures. A questionnaire and an analogue scale were used for assessing pain. The results suggest that PRP, at an average of 15.8(±3.8) weeks, caused significant changes, with a reduction in the anteroposterior diameter of the thorax, in the total number of regions with pain symptoms and in the intensity of pain symptoms. No significant alterations were depicted in the postural variables studied, although maintenance without aggravation of the postural alterations was evidenced for cases in which treatment was not interrupted. COPD patients present changes in anthropometric, postural and pain conditions that may be due to the aging process added to the occurrence of the disease.