Abstract
BACKGROUND: The effects of different exercise training programs on the level of physical activity in daily life in patients with COPD remain to be investigated.
OBJECTIVE: In patients with COPD we compared the effects of 2 exercise/training regimens (a high-intensity whole-body endurance-and-strength program, and a low-intensity calisthenics-and-breathing-exercises program) on physical activity in daily life, exercise capacity, muscle force, health-related quality of life, and functional status.
METHODS: We randomized 40 patients with COPD to perform either endurance-and-strength training (no. = 20, mean ± SD FEV1 40 ± 13% of predicted) at 60–75% of maximum capacity, or calisthenics-and-breathing-exercises training (no. = 20, mean ± SD FEV1 39 ± 14% of predicted). Both groups underwent 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks. Before and after the training programs the patients underwent activity monitoring with motion sensors, incremental cycle-ergometry, 6-min walk test, and peripheral-muscle-force test, and responded to questionnaires on health-related quality of life and functional status (activities of daily living, pulmonary functional status, and dyspnea).
RESULTS: Time spent active and energy expenditure in daily life were not significantly altered in either group. Exercise capacity and muscle force significantly improved only in the endurance-and-strength group. Health-related quality of life and functional status improved significantly in both groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Neither training program significantly improved time spent active or energy expenditure in daily life. The training regimens similarly improved quality of life and functional status. Exercise capacity and muscle force significantly improved only in the high-intensity endurance-and-strength group.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Fabio Pitta PhD, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rua Robert Koch, 60 Vila Operaria, Londrina, Paraná, 86038–440 Brazil. E-mail: fabiopitta{at}uol.com.br.
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Dr Probst was partly supported by grant PDJ 151757/2005–4, and Dr Pitta was partly supported by grant 301315/2007–8 from Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.
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The authors have disclosed no other conflicts of interest.
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