A total of 36 previously fit patients aged between 20 and 69 years with community-acquired pneumonia were studied. Of these, 32 completed the trial. Patients were randomised into one of two groups at the outset. Group 1 was the control and comprised 20 patients who did not receive physiotherapy; group 2 received physiotherapy twice daily until being discharged and comprised 12 patients. Assessments were made initially, after 3 days and after 5 to 8 weeks. Entry characteristics for both groups were similar. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups with regard to length of hospital stay, duration of antibiotic therapy, measured to predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) at final assessment, sputum production, subjective breathlessness and general well-being. The mean daily in-patient sputum weights for groups 1 and 2 were 2.4 and 7.3 gm respectively. At out-patient assessment, 70% of group 1 and 42% of group 2 were judged to have normal chest x-rays. There was no difference between the groups in their fitness to return to normal activity at out-patient follow-up. Group 2 produced secretions during physiotherapy over a mean period of 1.75 days; 5 were unproductive. Physiotherapy remains unproven in the treatment of previously fit patients with uncomplicated pneumonia. A larger multicentre trial is necessary to confirm these findings.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PDF locator
• publisher