# The Effectiveness of Pump Techniques and Compages: A Systematic Review
## 3 Results
### Qualitative Synthesis
#### 3.3.6 Diaphragmatic Pompage (Manual Diaphragm Release Technique) Versus Light Touch  
_Functional capacity._ Only one study [57] was identified comparing diaphragmatic pompage (Manual Diaphragm Release Technique) versus light touch in subjects with COPD, at short-term follow-up. Outcome assessed was functional capacity. This study showed a statistically significant improvement of walking distance measured with the 6-min Walking Test (6 MWT) for the treatment group compared to the control group. 3.3.7. Pompages Added to Stretching and Aerobic Exercise versus Stretching and Aerobic Exercise  
_Pain, fatigue and sleep quality._ Only one study [58] on Myofascial Pain Syndrome was identified comparing Manual Diaphragm Release Technique added to stretching and aerobic exercise versus stretching and aerobic exercise in subjects with fibromyalgiaalgia, at short-term follow-up. Outcomes assessed were pain, fatigue and sleep quality. No significant differences emerged between the groups for all outcome measures. 3.3.8. Pompages Added to Sham Tension-Type Headache Program Versus Tension-Type Headache Program  
_Pain and ROM._ Only one study [59] was identified comparing pompages added to sham total body electrode program versus total body electrode program, in subjects with chronic disabling tension headache, at short-term follow-up. Outcomes assessed were pain and ROM. A significant increase in flexion, extension and rotation ROM appeared in both groups, with ROM normalization. Furthermore, a significant reduction in perceived pain was recorded in both groups. 3.3.9. Knee Pompage Added to Exercise Versus Educational Lectures  
_Pain, postural balance and muscle strength._ Only one study [60] was identified comparing knee pompage added to exercise versus educational lectures in knee osteoarthritis, at short-term follow-up. Outcomes assessed were pain, postural balance and muscle strength. The treatment group presented better results in pain, postural balance and muscle strength when compared to the control group. Pain reduction was not different between the treatment group and the control group. The only significant difference between groups was about better balance improvements for the experimental group at 12 weeks follow-up. A muscle strength increase was observed in symptomatic and less symptomatic knee, for both groups. 3.3.10. Pompages Added to Postural Treatment Versus Pulmonary Rehabilitation Protocol  
_Functional capacity._ Only one study [61] was identified comparing pompages added to postural treatment versus pulmonary rehabilitation protocol in COPD patients at short-term follow-up. Outcome assessed was functional capacity. The patients of the treatment group increased the distance covered and had a better performance in the 6 MWT after the intervention. On the contrary, the patients of the control group decreased the distance covered and had low performance in the 6 MWT. A statistically significant difference between groups emerged. 3.4. Adverse Effects  
Concerning side effects, one participant in a study from the treatment group reported stiffness and was unable to get out of bed the morning after the first treatment while in the control group, one participant reported \"a little muscle soreness in the abdomen\" [46]. In a second study [47], one subject in the treatment group reported generalized muscle soreness, and another reported \"a little muscle soreness in the neck\", while in the control group, four instances of possible adverse effects were reported: \"elevated blood pressure in the morning\", (164/90 mm Hg)\"mild heart palpitations\", \"a little [muscle] soreness\", and \"back was a little sore\". 3.5. Risk of Bias and Quality of the Evidence Assessment  
Tables 3 and 4 show the synthesis of the RoB assessment for the selected studies. Globally, the RoB of the studies on pump techniques and pompages ranges from moderate to high.