title: Exercise training-based pulmonary rehabilitation program is clinically beneficial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating, interstitial lung disease, with few therapeutic options. IPF is characterized by pulmonary restriction, dyspnea, hypoxemia, exercise intolerance and poor quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to examine the effect of exercise training (ET) on clinical outcomes in IPF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled study included thirty-two IPF patients (aged 68 ± 8 years) who were allocated either to the ET group (n = 15), participating in a 12-week, twice-weekly 60-min supervised ET-based pulmonary rehabilitation program, or to a control group (n = 17) continuing with regular medical treatment alone. Cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-min walking distance (6MWD) test, 30-second chair-stand test, pulmonary function tests, dyspnea and QOL were assessed at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed between the ET and the control groups in raw mean deltas (Δ = post- - pre-intervention): Δ6MWD, 81 m, p < 0.001; ΔVO2 peak, 2.6 ml/kg/min, p = 0.002; Δwork rate, 22 W, p < 0.001; Δanaerobic threshold, 3.1 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001, and ΔFVC % predicted, 6%, p = 0.038. Dyspnea, QOL and 30-second chair-stand were also improved significantly following the program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ET improves exercise tolerance, functional capacity, pulmonary function, dyspnea and QOL in patients with IPF, suggesting a short-term treatment efficacy for clinical improvement, and should be considered the standard care for IPF.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: Baruch
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vainshelboim
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yehoshua
authors.forename: Israela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Benjamin Daniel
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fruchter
authors.forename: Mordechai Reuven
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome