Effect of Postural Brace for Correcting Forward Shoulder Posture and Kyphosis in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Pilot Study

Objectives: 1.To evaluate the effect of postural brace in correcting forward shoulder posture and kyphosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.( COPD) 2. To evaluate the effect of postural correction on inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients.

Design: A Pilot study comparing baseline values with post-test values.

Subjects: A total of 30 subjects between age group of 45-60 years of either gender, diagnosed to have COPD with forward shoulder posture and Kyphosis were studied.

Methods: Daily inspiratory muscle training(IMT) sessions of 30 minutes' duration and weekly training load increments of -2 to -4cmH2O over a 8-week period with the training device at loads of >30% of baseline maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) was given. Posture was corrected by a brace and patients were asked to wear it throughout the day for 8 weeks.

Outcome measures: Posture was assessed by Plumbline (PL), intra scapular distance(ISD) and percentage of kyphotic index(KI). Inspiratory muscle strength was measured by deriving maximal inspiratory pressure (PIMax)

Results: All subjects tolerated the training load, improved their inspiratory muscle strength, and reported correction of posture.

Conclusion: A combination of posture correction by a brace and inspiratory muscle training using TIMT is beneficial in improving posture and the strength of inspiratory muscles of COPD patients.