Abstract

PEREIRA, Ângela Maria et al. Impact of combined exercise on chronic obstructive pulmonary patients’ state of health. Rev Port Pneumol [online]. 2010, vol.16, n.5, pp.737-757. ISSN 0873-2159.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week combined training programme (aerobic and strength exercise) compared to an aerobic training programme, and respiratory physiotherapy on COPD patients’ health. Methods: Fifty subjects with moderate to severe COPD were randomly assigned to two groups. Combined group (CG, n=25) who underwent combined training, and aerobic group (AG, n=25) who underwent aerobic training. These were compared with fifty COPD subjects who underwent respiratory physiotherapy, breathing control and bronchial clearance techniques (RP group, n = 50). We evaluated health state through two questionnaires, St.George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and SF-36, at the beginning and at the end of the programme. Results: The CG group showed differences (p<0.0001) in modification rates in state of health compared to the AG and RP groups in the activity (64 ± 9%, 19 ± 7%, 1 ± 15%) , impact (35 ± 5%, 20 ± 18%, 1 ± 14%) and total (41 ± 9%, 26 ± 17%, 1 ± 15%) domains assessed by the SGRQ, and the physical function (109 ± 74%, 22 ± 12%, 0.1 ± 18%), physical role (52 ± 36%, 11 ± 15%, 1.3 ± 21%) and vitality (83 ± 39%, 14 ± 38%) domains assessed by SF-36. Conclusion: These results suggest that combined training in subjects with COPD appears to be a more effective method, with better clinical changes, and improvements in health state perception.

Keywords : Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; respiratory physiotherapy; endurance exercise; strength exercise; health state.

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