Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT) Associated With a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on the Functional Capacity of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind Clinical Trial.
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) as an adjunct to the pulmonary rehabilitation program on the functional capacity of patients with COPD. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial conducted with 20 patients from the outpatient clinic of the Integrated Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Rehabilitation Service of Santa Casa de Porto Alegre. Patients will be allocated to the active PBMT group, receiving photobiomodulation treatment prior to the exercise protocol of the pulmonary rehabilitation program, in the respiratory and peripheral muscles, or the placebo group, which will receive the therapy application at the same points but without the therapeutic dose, prior to rehabilitation. Sixteen PBMT applications will be performed over eight weeks, with a frequency of twice a week. The exercises performed in the institution's pulmonary rehabilitation program by the patients will not be interfered with by the researchers. Evaluations will be carried out in three stages: immediately after recruitment, after 8 interventions, and after 16 interventions.
• Patients diagnosed with COPD, in the maintenance phase, with GOLD classification 3 and 4;
• Ability to walk.