Comparative Effectiveness of Western and Eastern Manual Therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Manual therapy (MT) is considered a promising adjuvant therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Comparing the effectiveness among different Western and Eastern MTs being used for the management of COPD could potentially facilitate individualized management of COPD. This systematic review attempted to estimate the comparative effectiveness of Western and Eastern MTs for COPD patients using a network meta-analysis (NMA) methodology. Methods: Nine electronic databases were comprehensively searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to February 2021. Pair-wise meta-analysis and NMA were conducted on the outcomes of COPD, which included lung function and exercise capacity. Results: The NMA results from 30 included RCTs indicated that the optimal treatment for each outcome according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve was massage, acupressure, massage, and tuina for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and 6 min walking distance, respectively. Conclusions: MTs such as massage, acupressure, and tuina have shown comparative benefits for lung function and exercise capacity in COPD. However, the methodological quality of the included studies was poor, and the head-to-head trial comparing the effects of different types of MTs for COPD patients was insufficient. Therefore, further high-quality RCTs are essential.