Identification of Physiotherapy Problems in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at Respira Hospital Yogyakarta: An Observational Study

Authors

  • Mei Kusumaningtyas Department of Physiotherapy, Health Polytechnics, Ministry of Health of Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Herdianty Kusuma Handari Department of Physiotherapy, Health Polytechnics, Ministry of Health of Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Prayitno Department of Physiotherapy, Respira Pulmonary Specialty Hospital Yogyakarta, Bantul, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2026.11.2.955

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Common symptoms include dyspnea, chest pain, reduced thoracic expansion, and impaired pulmonary function. This study aimed to identify physiotherapy-related problems among patients with COPD at Respira Hospital Yogyakarta.

Subjects and Method: This observational study was conducted from June to August 2025 at the Physiotherapy Outpatient Clinic of Respira Pulmonary Hospital, Yogyakarta. Physiotherapy-related problems were assessed using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), thoracic mobility measurements, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Peak Flow Meter (PFM), and Incentive Spirometer.

Results: A total of 102 patients with COPD participated in the study. Most participants were male (60.8%). Grade 2 dyspnea was reported by 50.0% of subjects, while 65.7% had moderate COPD symptoms. Impaired thoracic mobility was observed in 40.2%–47.1% of patients. Chest pain was reported by only one subject. Severe airflow obstruction was found in 60.8% of participants, with a mean peak expiratory flow of 52.08% of the predicted value. Impaired inspiratory capacity was identified in 48.0% of subjects.

Conclusion: The main physiotherapy-related problems identified among patients with COPD at Respira Hospital Yogyakarta were dyspnea, COPD symptoms, impaired thoracic mobility, reduced peak expiratory flow, and decreased inspiratory capacity.

Keywords:

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, physiotherapy, thoracic mobility, dyspnea, peak expiratory flow

Published

2026-04-10

Downloads

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Identification of Physiotherapy Problems in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at Respira Hospital Yogyakarta: An Observational Study. (2026). Indonesian Journal of Medicine, 11(2), 86-94. https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2026.11.2.955

References

Agustí A, Faner R (2019). Lung function trajectories in health and disease. Lancet Respir Med. 7(4): 358–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(18)30529-0.

Al-Ani M, Winchester DE (2015). Prevalence and overlap of noncardiac conditions in the evaluation of low-risk acute chest pain patients. Crit Pathw Cardiol. 14(3): 97–102. https://doi.org/10.1097/HPC.0000000000000050.

Barnes PJ (2018). Targeting cytokines to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 18(7): 454–466. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-018-0006-6.

Bissett B, Leditschke IA, Green M, Marzano V, Collins S, Van Haren F (2019). Inspiratory muscle training for intensive care patients: a multidisciplinary practical guide for clinicians. Aust Crit Care. 32(3): 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2018.06.001.

Cirak YB, Yelvar GDY, Elbasi ND (2022). Effectiveness of 12-week inspiratory muscle training with manual therapy in patients with COPD: a randomized controlled study. Clin Respir J. 16(4): 317–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.13486.

Gaillard L, Stubbe L, Riquet D, Houel N (2025). Chest wall motion symmetry during breathing: a systematic review with meta-analysis providing normative value in healthy subjects. Respir Med Res. 89: 101244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmer.2025.101244.

Habibech Hamida K, Zendah I (2014). Nutritional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J. 44(58): P3601. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003/erj.44.Suppl_58.P3601.

Haritsah NF, Windiastoni YH, Noerdjannah N (2022). Differences in the effect of the combination of home-based walking exercise and pursed lip breathing with pranayama exercise on increasing lung capacity in COPD conditions. Indones J Med. 7(4): 439–448. https://doi.org/10.26911/theijmed.2022.7.4.590.

Indonesian Society of Respirology. (2023). COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease): Guidelines for diagnosis and management in Indonesia. Retrieved from https://www.klikpdpi.com/ilmiah/pedoman/ppok-2023.

Kabitz HJ, Walterspacher S, Walker D, Windisch W (2007). Inspiratory muscle strength in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depending on disease severity. Clin Sci (Lond). 113(5): 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20060362.

Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2013). Basic Health Rese¬arch 2013 (Riskesdas). (in Indonesian languange). Jakarta: Health Research and Development Agency, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. Retrieved from https://repository.badankebijakan.kemkes.go.id/id/eprint/4467/1/Laporan_riskesdas_2013_final.pdf.

Lee K (2021). Correlation between respiretory muscle strength and pulmonary function with respiratory muscle length increase in healthy adults. Phys Ther Rehabil Sci. 10(4): 398–405. https://doi.org/10.14474/ptrs.2021.10.4.398.

Mustafaoglu R, Birinci T, Mutlu EK, Ozdincler AR (2019). The effects of thoracic manipulation on chest wall mobility and pulmonary functions: a pilot study. Turk Thorac J. 20(1): 209. https://doi.org/10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2019.209.

Oliveira AS, Munhá J, Bugalho A, Guimarães M, Reis G, Marques A (2018). Identification and assessment of COPD exacerbations. Pulmonology. 24(1): 42–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rppnen.2017.10.006.

Padkao T, Boonla O (2020). Relationships between respiratory muscle strength, chest wall expansion, and functional capacity in healthy nonsmokers. J Exerc Rehabil. 16(2): 189–196. https://doi.org/10.12965/jer.2040080.040.

Suma CP, Shetty DU, Keerti (2025). Correlation between peak expiratory flow rate and body mass index in school-going children aged 8–15 years: a cross-sectional study. Electron J Cardiovasc Med. 15(9): 35–40. https://doi.org/10.61336/ejcm/25-09-07.

Yu Z, Huang H, Fang S, Zhang L (2026). The effectiveness of respiratory muscle training on the duration and severity of respiratory symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can Respir J. 2026: 6434649. https://doi.org/10.1155/carj/6434649.

Zhang H, Wu F, Yi H, Xu D, Jiang N, Li Y, Li M, et al. (2021). Gender differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptom clusters. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 16: 1101–1107. https://doi.org/10.2147/copd.s302877.