Effects of 2 exercise training programs on physical activity in daily life in patients with COPD.
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 FEV(1) 40 ± 13% of predicted) at 60-75% of maximum capacity, or calisthenics-and-breathing-exercises training (no. = 20, mean ± SD FEV(1) 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.
Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
Vanessa S
VS
Probst
Demétria
D
Kovelis
Nídia A
NA
Hernandes
Carlos A
CA
Camillo
Vinícius
V
Cavalheri
Fabio
F
Pitta
D000368:Aged; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training; D016526:Workload