Effect of ventilation-feedback training on endurance and perceived breathlessness during constant work-rate leg-cycle exercise in patients with COPD.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a unique program of ventilation-feedback training combined with leg-cycle exercise to improve exertional endurance and decrease perceived dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thirty-nine patients (67.5 +/- 8.1 yr of age) with moderate to severe COPD (42.6% of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s) were randomized to one of three 6-week experimental interventions: ventilation-feedback with exercise (V(+EX)), exercise only (EX(ONLY)), or ventilation-feedback only (VF(ONLY)). At baseline and at 6 weeks, patients completed a constant work-rate leg-cycle ergometer test at 85 percent of maximal power output. There were increases within the groups in exercise duration: 11.5 min (103%), 8.0 min (66%), and 0.4 min (4%) for the VF(+EX), EX(ONLY) and VF(ONLY) groups, respectively. The VF(ONLY) group experienced no significant within-group changes in selected gas exchange parameters. However, there were significant (p < 0.05) posttraining changes in minute ventilation, tidal volume, breathing frequency (f), and expiratory time (Te) in the VF(+EX) group, and in f and Te in the EX(ONLY) group. After completing the training, VF(+EX) and EX(ONLY) patients reported less breathlessness and perceived exertion (p < 0.05). The VF(ONLY) patients' ratings changed in the hypothesized direction but were not significant. Based on these preliminary data, VF(+EX) and EX(ONLY) were equally effective in improving leg-cycle exercise tolerance in patients with moderate to severe COPD.
Collins
Eileen G
EG
Research and Development, Nursing, and Medical Services, Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Hines, IL 60141, USA. eileen.collins@med.va.gov
Fehr
Linda
L
Bammert
Christine
C
O'Connell
Susan
S
Laghi
Franco
F
Hanson
Karla
K
Hagarty
Eileen
E
Langbein
W Edwin
WE
D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange