Project information

  • Category: Case Report
  • Researchers:: Greenberg, S., Moriarty, S., Perera, I., Kasper, H., Kasper, B., Moriarty, H.

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a type of interstitial lung disease that results in fibrotic lung tissue leading to symptoms of dyspnea, nonproductive cough, decreased mobility and fatigue. This article presents a well-documented case of a 73-year-old female presenting to a chiropractic and rehabilitation center seeking care after failing medication therapy. The patient presented hypoxic on room air with decreased mobility throughout her cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine. Three manual therapy techniques were performed at the rehabilitation clinic aimed at improving range of motion of the impacted joints and surrounding tissue. The patient was also given manual therapy exercises to perform at home. Pre- and post-intervention assessments showed an improvement in oxygenation saturation on room air, increased mobility, and stabilization of the patients pulmonary function test (PFT) values. This case demonstrates the importance of considering manual therapy in patients that have failed standard of care or are unable to tolerate the medications used to treat IPF.

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