title: Long-term effects of home rehabilitation on physical performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: A pilot study was set up to assess the long-term effects of once weekly versus once monthly follow-up of pulmonary rehabilitation after a comprehensive home rehabilitation program on physical performance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during an 18-mo period. Thirty-six patients with a mean FEV1 of 1.3 +/- 0.4 L (43% pred) were included in the study. Groups A and B (n = 23) visited the physical therapist twice weekly for 3 mo. Thereafter, 11 patients (Group A) had a follow-up of pulmonary rehabilitation once a week, and 12 patients (Group B) had a follow-up once a month. Thirteen patients received no rehabilitation at all (Group C). Long-term home rehabilitation does not appear to improve exercise tolerance; however, on the other hand, there is a deterioration in vital capacity (p < 0.01), walking distance (p < 0.01), and maximal work load (p < 0.05), as shown in the control group. A small improvement in exertional dyspnea (p < 0.01) after 18 mo and inspiratory muscle function (p < 0.05) after 12 mo was shown only in Group A. Because of the insufficient number of patients enrolled in this pilot study, no clear benefit on physical performance of long-term home rehabilitation with either weekly or monthly supervision could be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Centre Beatrixoord, Haren, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wijkstra
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: van der Mark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Altena
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koëter
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
mesh_terms: D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D016896:Treatment Outcome