Effects of Kinesio Taping Techniques in COPD Patients

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible, progressive, treatable airway disease which causes dyspnea, wheezing, coughing and increased secretions in airways. Thoracic and respiratory mechanics are impaired, respiratory muscle strength and functional exercise capacity is decreased in patients with COPD. As a result dyspnea, limitation in activities of daily living, postural impairments, muscle length-strength relationship changes and increased mechanical loads on respiratory muscles occur. In literature it has been demonstrated that Kinesio Taping have therapeutic effects on respiratory functions and functional exercise capacity in patients with chronic neurological diseases who has additional respiratory impairments. Although there are several studies in literature investigating the effects of facilitation and inhibition taping techniques applied on respiratory muscles in patients with COPD, effects of thoracic and postural mechanical correction techniques as an alternative treatment modality in patients with COPD have not been investigated yet. In present study, effects of thoracic mechanical correction and facilitation taping techniques in patients with COPD will be investigated, and data will be collected for effects of thoracic mechanical correction taping on pulmonary parameters in patients with COPD.