Department of Medical sciences: Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Ing. 40, 2 tr., Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. harpa.arnardottir@medsci.uu.se
To compare the effects on exercise capacity and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of two exercise programmes; one programme including endurance training and one including only resistance training and callisthenics. A second purpose was to find out whether the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affected the training response and whether the interventions had a long-term effect.
Sixty-three patients were stratified according to severity of COPD and randomised to two training groups. Group A had a mixed programme including endurance training. Group B had resistance training and callisthenics. All trained twice weekly for 8 weeks. A symptom-limited ergometer test, 12-min walking test, dynamic spirometry, blood gas analysis at rest and HRQoL were measured before and after the training period. Follow-up tests were conducted at 6 and 12 months after training.
Forty-two patients fulfilled the trial. In group A (n=20) peak exercise capacity increased by 7W (P