Estudo comparativo entre acadêmicos e profissionais de fisioterapia sobre a técnica de vibração torácica

Abstract

Introduction: Chest vibration is one of the most used manual techniques in respiratory physiotherapy. This practice is performed to mobilize secretion in the bronchial tree aiming its expulsion. Objective: to analyze the frequency of manual vibration performed by physiotherapists and physiotherapy students, verifying if the obtained values in measurements can achieve the standard for effectiveness of the technique and correlate the variables sex, age, time as a graduate, if he/she acts in the field of Respiratory Physical Therapy and, if so, for how long. Method: Three study groups were formed: G1 – physiotherapists graduated for less than two years; G2 - physiotherapists graduated for more than two years; G3 – interns of Universidade Federal de Santa Maria’s Physiotherapy graduation course. All subjects of this study performed the manual chest vibration maneuver, at which point the frequency of the vibration was measured by a triaxial accelerometer Delta Tron 4524b, in lateral, dorsal and ventral decubitus. Results: The average frequency obtained among the groups was of G1= 12,60±2,06; G2= 11,24±2,18; G3= 9,57±2,06, and showed no significant difference between the positions in comparison to the groups G1 (p=0,98), G2 (p=0,95) and G3 (p=0,85). The time of graduation, time of operation and age of the physiotherapist showed poor correlation with the frequency of vibration (r=-0,19, r=-0,12 and r=0,08 respectively). There was no significant difference between the physiotherapists who worked in the field compared to those who did not (p= 0,71). Changes in decubitus for the application of the technique did not obtain a significant difference regarding the frequency (p= 0,95). Conclusion: The chest vibration performed by this research’s subjects was within the standards recommended by literature. However, suggest more studies because there is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal frequency of vibration manual.