title: Low-Volume Whole-Body Vibration Training Improves Exercise Capacity in Subjects With Mild to Severe COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of a low-volume out-patient whole-body vibration training (WBVT) program on exercise capacity in comparison with a calisthenics training program in subjects with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-center randomized controlled trial, 29 subjects with mild to severe COPD were randomized to WBVT or to calisthenics training, including relaxation and breathing retraining in combination with calisthenics exercises. Both groups equally exercised for a duration of 3 months with 2 sessions of 30 min/week. Outcome parameters were 6-min walk distance (6MWD, primary outcome), 5-repetition sit-to-stand test, leg press peak force, Berg balance scale, St George Respiratory Questionnaire, and COPD assessment test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven subjects completed the study (WBVT,n= 14; calisthenics training program,n= 13). Baseline characteristics between groups were comparable. Subjects in the WBVT group significantly improved median (interquartile range) 6MWD (+105 [45.5-133.5] m,P= .001), sit-to-stand test (-2.3 [-3.1 to -1.3] s,P= .001), peak force (28.7 [16.7-33.3] kg,P= .001), and Berg balance scale (1.5 [0.0-4.0] points,P= .055). Changes in 6MWD, sit-to-stand test, and leg press peak force were also found to be significantly different between groups in favor of the WBVT group. Only the between-group difference of the COPD assessment test score was in favor of the calisthenics training group (P= .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low-volume WBVT program resulted in significantly and clinically relevant larger improvements in exercise capacity compared with calisthenics exercises in subjects with mild to severe COPD. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration DRKS9706.).
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Leverkusen (April), Remigius Hospital, Leverkusen Opladen, Germany. spielmanns@k-plus.de.|Faculty of Health, Department of Pneumology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spielmanns
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boeselt
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany and the Department of Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gloeckl
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Leverkusen (April), Remigius Hospital, Leverkusen Opladen, Germany.
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klutsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Training and Health, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Henrike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Leverkusen (April), Remigius Hospital, Leverkusen Opladen, Germany.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Polanski
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Training and Health, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nell
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Cologne Merheim Hospital, Kliniken der Stadt Koeln GmbH, Cologne, Germany.|Department of Pneumology, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Storre
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Department of Pneumology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.|Department of Pneumology, Cologne Merheim Hospital, Kliniken der Stadt Koeln GmbH, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Windisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Koczulla
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
keywords: COPD; exercise test; physical exercise; training