Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is nowadays the 4th cause of death in the world and it´s expected to become the 3rd cause of death in 2020 and the majority cause of morbidity. Besides that, in Portugal COPD patients become more dependents each day. Acupuncture as a reflex therapy it´s carried out through a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnose that will allowed to identify the acupoints. The investigators are interested in to assess acupuncture efficacy on physical exercise tolerance in COPD patients.An experimental, controlled, randomized, double blind study was done. Patients were recruited according TCM diagnose to optimize potential therapeutic effects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
29
The patients were randomized in two groups, one verum acupuncture, submitted to real acupuncture treatment, and the other sham acupuncture, treated with false acupuncture
Carla Manuela Loureiro Barros
Marco de Canaveses, Porto District, Portugal
six minute walk test (6MWT)
distance walked (metres)
Time frame: 6 minutes
Oxygen peripheral saturation (SPO2)
pulse oximeter
Time frame: 6 minutes
Rating of perceived exertion (Borg Scale)
during 6MWT
Time frame: 6 minutes
Blood pressure
measure at end of 6MWT
Time frame: 6 minutes
heart rate
at end of 6MWT
Time frame: 6 minutes
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