Abstract
Background: Research has provided evidence for the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of exercise training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, little is known about the impact of exercise training in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of an exercise training program on exercise capacity, muscle strength, dyspnea and quality of life indices, in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis. .
Methods: Clinically stable patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis (n=34), receiving home mechanical ventilation during the night for the previous six months, were randomly assigned to an exercise (n = 17) or control (n = 17) group. The exercise group trained three nonconsecutive days per week for 12 weeks, including cycle and strength exercises. The study outcomes were changes in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea scores, and quality of life from baseline to post-intervention.
Results: Statistical analysis was carried out in 16 patients in the exercise group and in 11 patients in the control group. Lung function parameters did not change from baseline to post-intervention, with the exception of arterial carbon dioxide (p = 0.04), inspiratory (p = 0.025) and expiratory pressures (p = 0.04). In the exercise group, endurance time (p=0.002) and shuttle walking distance (p=0.001) increased significantly. Improvements occurred in the exercise group in peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life were statistically different when compared to the control group.
Conclusions: In patients with chronic respiratory failure due to kyphoscoliosis, exercise training had beneficial effects on exercise capacity and peripheral muscle strength, resulting in less dyspnea and better quality of life.
- chronic respiratory failure
- exercise training
- kyphoscoliosis
- peripheral muscle strength
- quality of life
- dyspnea
- endurance capacity
- pulmonary rehabilitation
Footnotes
- Pilar Cejudo, MD, PhD. Medical-Surgical Unit of Respiratory Diseases, Virgen del Rocio University Hospital, Seville, Spain. Email address: pilarcejudoramos{at}gmail.com.
The authors has no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Funding: This study was carried out with financial support from the Neumosur Foundation.
- Copyright © 2013 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.