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Upper-limb and lower-limb exercise training in patients with chronic airflow obstruction
F R Lake1, K Henderson, T Briffa
1Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.
Chest
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Upper-limb exercise training improves arm function and well-being in patients with severe COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Combined upper- and lower-limb training enhances walking distance and overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Severe Chronic Airflow Obstruction (CAO) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and exercise capacity.
- Current rehabilitation programs often focus on lower-limb training, potentially neglecting upper-limb function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of upper-limb exercise training, alone and combined with walking, in severe CAO patients.
- To determine if exercise training specificity influences outcomes in this population.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 28 severe CAO patients (FEV1 32% predicted).
- Four groups: control, upper-limb training, lower-limb (walking) training, and combined training.
- Supervised exercise sessions (1 hour, 3x/week for 8 weeks) with comprehensive pre- and post-training assessments.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in six-minute walking distance for lower-limb and combined groups.
- Significant improvements in arm ergometer performance for upper-limb and combined groups.
- Enhanced well-being reported in the combined training group.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training improves exercise performance in severe CAO.
- Training benefits are specific to the muscle groups trained.
- Upper-limb exercises are a valuable component for comprehensive CAO rehabilitation programs.