• Corpus ID: 3979550

Breathing training on lower esophageal sphincter as a complementary treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a systematic review.

@article{Casale2016BreathingTO,
  title={Breathing training on lower esophageal sphincter as a complementary treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a systematic review.},
  author={Manuele Casale and Lorenzo Sabatino and Antonio Moffa and F Capuano and Vitaliana Luccarelli and Massimiliano Andrea Vitali and Mentore Ribolsi and Michele Cicala and Fabrizio Salvinelli},
  journal={European review for medical and pharmacological sciences},
  year={2016},
  volume={20 21},
  pages={
          4547-4552
        }
}

• M. Casale, L. Sabatino, +6 authors F. Salvinelli
• Published 1 November 2016
• Medicine
• European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

OBJECTIVE
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) represents one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, but is still a challenge to cure. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are currently the GERD's standard treatment, although not successful in all patients; some concerns have been raised regarding their long term consumption. Recently, some studies showed the benefits of inspiratory muscle training in increasing the lower esophageal sphincter pressure in patients affected by GERD, thereby reducing their symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Relevant published studies were searched in Pubmed, Google Scholar, Ovid or Medical Subject Headings using the following keywords: "GERD" and physiotherapy", "GERD" and "exercise", "GERD" and "breathing", "GERD and "training".

RESULTS
At the end of our selection process, four publications have been included for systematic review. All of them were prospective controlled studies, mainly based on the training of the diaphragm muscle. GERD symptoms, pH-manometry values and PPIs usage were assessed.

CONCLUSIONS
Among the non-surgical, non-pharmacological treatment modalities, the breathing training on diaphragm could play an important role in selected patients to manage the symptoms of GERD.