Dr Merlo coauthored a publication written by Clinicians and Researchers at the Azienda USL-IRCCS of Reggio Emilia (Italy) on the risk of falling in patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Narrative review
A review article on respiratory rehabilitation and fall prevention in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been published in the Italian journal “Patologia dell’apparato respiratorio”.
The review focuses on peripheral changes in patients with respiratory diseases, such as distal muscle dysfunction, balance deficits, and increased reaction times to postural perturbations. These seem to result in a 47% higher risk of falling than healthy peers. This phenomenon has not only personal and social welfare repercussions, but also economic ones, and should therefore be addressed with proper studies.
Balance assessment in COPD patients
The American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society recommend balance assessment as part of the COPD patient evaluation, including anamnestic questionnaires, the Timed Up and Go test, the Single Leg Stance test, or the administration of the Berg Balance scale or the Mini Balance Evaluation System test. In addition, instrumented balance assessment, as performed in Motion Analysis Laboratories, can add valuable information to understand balance deficits and their main causes.
The review shows that it is increasingly important to personalize the rehabilitation programs, with the addition of exercises specific for balance improvement, especially addressing frail patients.
Congratulations to all authors: Anna Mocellin, Isabella Campanini, Andrea Merlo, Enrico Clini, and Mirco Lusuardi!
