Background: Age-related musculoskeletal and structural changes in the respiratory system led to decreased chest expansion, compromised ventilation, and reduced functional capacity. Respiratory Muscle Stretch Gymnastics (RMSG) and Thoracic Expansion Exercises (TEE) are used to improve thoracic mobility in the elderly. This study aimed to compare the short-term effects of RMSG and TEE on chest expansion. Material and Methodology: Forty-two elderly individuals (65–75 years) were selected using convenient sampling and divided into two groups using systematic random allocation: Group A (RMSG; n=21) and Group B (TEE; n=21). Chest expansion was measured at axillary, nipple, and xiphisternal levels before and after a one-week intervention. Result: Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in chest expansion. Group A demonstrated superior improvement compared to Group B at all measurement levels: axillary (p=0.014), nipple (p=0.009), and xiphisternum (p<0.001). The greatest enhancement was observed at the xiphisternal level. Conclusion: RMSG is more effective than TEE in improving chest expansion in elderly individuals and can be recommended as a simple, feasible intervention in geriatric rehabilitation.
Dsouza et al. (2026) studied this question.