title: The evidence of benefits of exercise training in interstitial lung disease: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: Uncertainty exists regarding the clinical relevance of exercise training across the range of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs).
  
  
  
  To establish the impact of exercise training in patients with ILDs of differing aetiology and severity.
  
  
  
  142 participants with ILD (61 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 22 asbestosis, 23 connective tissue disease-related ILD (CTD-ILD) and 36 with other aetiologies) were randomised to either 8 weeks of supervised exercise training or usual care. Six-minute walk distance (6MWD), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ), St George Respiratory Questionnaire IPF-specific version (SGRQ-I) and modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea score were measured at baseline, 9 weeks and 6 months.
  
  
  
  Exercise training significantly increased 6MWD (25 m, 95% CI 2 to 47 m) and health-related quality of life (CRDQ and SGRQ-I) in people with ILD. Larger improvements in 6MWD, CRDQ, SGRQ-I and dyspnoea occurred in asbestosis and IPF compared with CTD-ILD, but with few significant differences between subgroups. Benefits declined at 6 months except in CTD-ILD. Lower baseline 6MWD and worse baseline symptoms were associated with greater benefit in 6MWD and symptoms following training. Greater gains were seen in those whose exercise prescription was successfully progressed according to the protocol. At 6 months, sustained improvements in 6MWD and symptoms were associated with better baseline lung function and less pulmonary hypertension.
  
  
  
  Exercise training is effective in patients across the range of ILDs, with clinically meaningful benefits in asbestosis and IPF. Successful exercise progression maximises improvements and sustained treatment effects favour those with milder disease.
  
  
  
  Results, ACTRN12611000416998.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Alfred Centre, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Physiotherapy, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Leona M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dowman
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Annemarie L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boote
authors.affiliation: Allergy, Immunology & Respiratory Medicine Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Glaspole
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Allergy, Immunology & Respiratory Medicine Department, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicole S L
authors.initials: NSL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory & Sleep Disorders Medicine, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Southcott
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Alfred Centre, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Burge
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Alfred Centre, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gillies
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Alfred Centre, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.|Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.|Department of Physiotherapy, Alfred Health, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2061-845X
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D000070857:Walk Test
keywords: Asbestos Induced Lung Disease; Connective tissue disease associated lung disease; Exercise; Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; Interstitial Fibrosis; Pulmonary Rehabilitation