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Updated: Jun 10, 2026
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Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Resistance arm training in patients with COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Tania Janaudis-Ferreira1, Kylie Hill, Roger S Goldstein
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Chest
|August 21, 2010
Summary
Upper extremity resistance training improved arm function, exercise capacity, and muscle strength in COPD patients. However, it did not significantly reduce dyspnea during daily activities or improve quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Exercise Physiology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly impacts daily life, often causing dyspnea and reduced arm function.
- Upper extremity function is crucial for activities of daily living (ADL) in COPD patients.
- Current rehabilitation strategies may not fully address upper limb limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of upper extremity resistance training in COPD patients.
- To assess the impact of this training on dyspnea during ADL, arm function, exercise capacity, muscle strength, and health-related quality of life (HRQL).
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 36 COPD patients (mean age 66 ± 9 years).
- Intervention group: 6 weeks of arm resistance training (3x/week). Control group: sham exercise.
- Outcome measures included the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ), 6-min pegboard and ring test (6PBRT), unsupported upper limb exercise test (UULEX), and isometric dynamometry for muscle strength.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significant improvements in arm function (6PBRT), arm exercise capacity (UULEX), and muscle strength (biceps, triceps, deltoids) compared to the control group (P < .05 for all).
- No significant differences were observed between groups in dyspnea during ADL, HRQL, or symptom perception during exercise (P > .08).
Conclusions:
- Resistance-based arm training is effective in enhancing arm function, exercise capacity, and muscle strength for individuals with COPD.
- This specific training intervention did not demonstrate benefits for reducing dyspnea during ADL or improving overall HRQL in this patient population.
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