The effects of a 9-week program of aerobic and upper body exercise on the maximal voluntary ventilation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 9-week exercise program that emphasized aerobic and upper body strength on the maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An experimental and control group totaling 40 patients with a diagnosis of COPD was studied.


METHODS
Experimental group subjects were given a pre- and post-MVV breathing test, a Patient's Attitude Toward Health (PATH) questionnaire, a knowledge of disease questionnaire and a 6-minute walk test. Pre- and post-MVV breathing tests were performed on the control group. Dependent t-test and analysis of covariance were utilized to evaluate the results.


RESULTS
Significant differences were found between the pre-test and post-test within the experimental group on MVV results, program attitudes toward health (PATH scores), knowledge level about their disease state after the rehabilitation program, and 6-minute walk distance. There were no significant differences found in the MVV results between the pre-test and post-test for the control group. There was a significant difference when comparing the control group MVV results to the MVV results of the exercise group.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that pulmonary rehabilitation programs can help patients realize improved lung function, improved emotional states, increased knowledge about their disease states, and an increased cardiovascular fitness level. The results of this study suggest a regimen that can improve the quality of life for patients with chronic lung disease.
Cardiopulmonary Department, St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Missouri, USA.
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D
Dugan
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Walker
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DA
Monroe
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests