COPD patients shows limited thoracic expansion due to loss of mobility at costovertebral joint, costochondral joint and costotransverse joint. Rib cage mobilization can increase rib cage mobility and improve thoracic expansion in COPD patients.

Objective: The study was conducted to compare the effects of rib cage mobilization and diaphragmatic breathing on lung function in patients with COPD.

Materials and Methods: A Randomized clinical trial was conducted. IRCT No: IRCT20210108049966N2. Data was collected from Idrees teaching hospital Sialkot Cantt, Allama Iqbal memorial hospital Sialkot, Chest and gynae hospital Sialkot. Sample size was 22. Patients with COPD was recruited and divided in two groups. One group received rib cage mobilization (10 males and 1 female) and other group received diaphragmatic breathing (7 males and 4 females) were participated by using a non-probability convenience sampling technique and the data was analyses through SPSS version 25. Baseline values for height, weight, BMI FEV1/FVC ratios and dyspnea index were calculated before the interventions. 3 weeks of both interventions were given. After 3-week FEV1/FVC and dyspnea index was measured again to check the effects of both treatments.

Results: Groups were homogenous at baseline and not statistically significant in all the parameters including FEV1/FVC ratio and dyspnea index with p value> 0.05. After the analysis, it was found that within group analysis showed a statistically significant (p< 0.001) improvement in the entire outcome measures including FEV1/FVC ratio and dyspnea index in both groups.

Conclusion: In this study rib cage mobilization is more effective rather than diaphragmatic breathing on lung function in COPD patients to improving FEV1/FVC ratio and dyspnea index.

Index Terms-  COPD, rib cage mobilization, diaphragmatic breathing.