Combining functional exercises with exercise training in COPD: a randomized controlled trial.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Exercise Physiology
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Management

Background:

• Improving physical activity in daily life (PADL) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients remains a significant challenge.
• Combining functional exercises with aerobic and resistance training is a potential strategy to enhance PADL and reduce limitations in activities of daily living (ADL).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the short- and medium-term effects of a combined functional, aerobic, and resistance training program on PADL and ADL limitations in COPD patients.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-six COPD patients were randomized into three groups: functional training (resistance, aerobic, functional exercises), conventional training (resistance, aerobic exercises), or usual care (respiratory physiotherapy).
• PADL, ADL limitations (LCADL), functional exercise capacity (6MWT), and muscle strength were assessed before and after 8 weeks of intervention, with medium-term follow-up at 12 weeks post-training.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed between groups in PADL or 6MWT at post-intervention or 12-week follow-up.
• The conventional training group showed a significant reduction in LCADL scores post-intervention, but this improvement was not sustained at 12 weeks and was not superior to other groups.
• Only the conventional training group demonstrated increased knee flexor and extensor muscle strength post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• The combination of functional, aerobic, and resistance training did not improve PADL or ADL limitations in COPD patients.
• Eight weeks of conventional training improved ADL limitations in the short term, but these benefits were not superior to other interventions and did not persist at medium-term follow-up.