Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Versus Autogenic Drainage in Patients With COPD

NCT07402850 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PHRI/IREB/26/01/0079
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 58
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term lung condition that causes breathing difficulty, cough, and sputum production. Airway clearance techniques are commonly used to help reduce symptoms and improve breathing in patients with COPD. This study compared two airway clearance methods-oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) therapy and autogenic drainage-to determine which method is more effective in improving lung function, sputum clearance, shortness of breath, and quality of life in patients with COPD. Participants were divided into two groups and received either OPEP therapy or autogenic drainage for four weeks. Outcomes were measured at the beginning of the study and again after completion of the intervention. The findings of this study aim to support evidence-based physiotherapy management for patients with COPD.

Conditions

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); Airway Clearance

Keywords

COPD; Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure; Autogenic Drainage; Physiotherapy; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Airway Clearance Techniques

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV₁ % Predicted)

  Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), expressed as percentage of the predicted value, in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

  Baseline and at 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Sputum Clearance as Measured by the Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale (BCSS)

  Baseline and at 4 weeks

• Change in Dyspnea Severity as Measured by the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale

  Baseline and at 4 weeks

• Change in Health-Related Quality of Life as Measured by the COPD Assessment Test (CAT)

  Baseline and at 4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group received oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy as an airway clearance technique for four weeks.

Device: Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy

Autogenic Drainage Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in this group received autogenic drainage as an airway clearance technique for four weeks.

Behavioral: Autogenic Drainage

Interventions

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy DEVICE

Oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy was administered using a handheld device to facilitate airway clearance by providing expiratory resistance and oscillations during exhalation. The intervention was applied for four weeks.

Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure Therapy Group

Autogenic Drainage BEHAVIORAL

Autogenic drainage is a breathing technique involving controlled breathing at different lung volumes to mobilize and clear bronchial secretions. Participants performed autogenic drainage sessions for four weeks.

Autogenic Drainage Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 35 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 35 and 50 years
• Both genders
• Participants must have a confirmed diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) based on the GOLD 2023 guidelines
• Clinically stable
• History of Sputum Culture

You may not qualify if:

• Acute exacerbation of COPD
• Severe cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal disorders
• Recent thoracic or abdominal surgery
• Presence of other significant respiratory diseases
• Unwillingness to participate or inability to comply with the study protocol

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Adnan Hashim: lead

Study Sites (1)

University

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Bridges, C., Graham-Wollard, L., Morris, H., Annandale, J., & Lewis, K. (2023). S56 A feasibility randomised control trial (RCT) of OPEP verses active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  BACKGROUND

• Boers, E., Barrett, M., Su, J. G., Benjafield, A. V., Sinha, S., Kaye, L., Zar, H. J., Vuong, V., Tellez, D., Gondalia, R., Rice, M. B., Nunez, C. M., Wedzicha, J. A., & Malhotra, A. (2023). Global Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Through 2050. JAMA Netw Open, 6(12), e2346598. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46598

  BACKGROUND

• Bishop, K. L., & Malone, D. J. (2024). Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders. In Acute Care Physical Therapy (pp. 245-310). Routledge.

  BACKGROUND

• Belli, S., Prince, I., Savio, G., Paracchini, E., Cattaneo, D., Bianchi, M., Masocco, F., Bellanti, M. T., & Balbi, B. (2021). Airway clearance techniques: the right choice for the right patient. Frontiers in medicine, 8, 544826.

  BACKGROUND

• Awokola, B., Amusa, G., Jewell, C., Okello, G., Stobrink, M., Finney, L., Mohammed, N., Erhart, A., & Mortimer, K. (2022). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 26(3), 232-242.

  BACKGROUND

• Alruwaili, A. T. S., Alsirhani, A. F., khlaif Alrwili, A., Aldaghmi, M. T. A., Alharbi, S. E. M., & Aldhafeeri, R. Z. (2024). NURSING, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND RESPIRATORY CARE IN ENHANCING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION FOR PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY DISEASES. Gland Surgery, 9(2).

  BACKGROUND

• Alghamdi, S. M., Alsulayyim, A. S., Alasmari, A. M., Philip, K. E., Buttery, S. C., Banya, W. A., Polkey, M. I., Birring, S. S., & Hopkinson, N. S. (2023). Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure therapy in COPD (O-COPD): a randomised controlled trial. Thorax, 78(2), 136-143.

  BACKGROUND

• Adeloye, D., Song, P., Zhu, Y., Campbell, H., Sheikh, A., & Rudan, I. (2022). Global, regional, and national prevalence of, and risk factors for, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2019: a systematic review and modelling analysis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 10(5), 447-458.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Adnan Hashim, DPT

  Department of Physical Therapy, The University of Lahore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation to minimize assessment bias. Participants and care providers were not blinded due to the nature of the interventions.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctor of Physical Therapy Student

Model Details: Participants were allocated into two parallel groups to receive either oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy or autogenic drainage for a four-week intervention period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2026
• First Posted: February 11, 2026
• Study Start: May 5, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 8, 2025
• Study Completion: September 12, 2025
• Last Updated: February 11, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)