Exercise training for the improvement of exercise performance of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae

To examine whether exercise training using nontreadmill walking is effective for the improvement of exercise performance of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae (PTS) characterized by restrictive ventilatory defect.

Fourteen patients with stable PTS hospitalized for assessment of exertional dyspnea in Fukujuji Hospital from April 1997 to March 1999 were enrolled in this observational study. All patients underwent baseline pulmonary function tests, arterial blood-gases analysis and exercise tests for initial assessment. Four patients were excluded because of hypoxemia during the initial treadmill test. The remaining 10 patients who stopped exercising because of symptom limitations became candidates for the exercise training. The patients were instructed to perform daily walking exercise training in a hallway in the hospital for 2 weeks. The training was started at their maximum walking speeds during the treadmill test, and walking speed was gradually increased as the patients gained confidence. After finishing the exercise training, the patients performed pulmonary function tests, arterial blood-gases analysis was done, and exercise tests were conducted in identical fashion to the baseline protocol.

There were no significant changes in pulmonary function tests and arterial blood-gases analysis after the exercise training. Exercise tolerance improved with a significant increase in peak oxygen uptake (from 13.6+/-2.8 to 14.8+/-2.8 ml/kg/min, p<0.01) and distance covered in a 6-minute walk (from 399+/-62 to 467+/-65 m, p<0.01) after the exercise training.

The exercise training we conducted is shown to be a safe and effective modality for the improvement of exercise performance of patients with PTS.