Effect of Peripheral Muscle Strength Training on Exercise Capacity in Subjects with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Aim

To find out the effect of peripheral muscle strength training on exercise capacity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Need of the Study

Review of literature has shown that the COPD patients have reduced exercise capacity due to deconditioning from disuse of peripheral muscle. It is required to know whether strength training with structured exercise protocol is effective in COPD. The structured exercise protocol is to be implemented to upgrade the strength in a systemic way and to correlate this with quality of life (QOL). Hence the need of the study is to find out the effect of structured strength training protocol on QOL in COPD patients.

Objectives of the Study

• To find out the relationship between peripheral muscle strength and VO2 peak. • To find out the relationship between peripheral muscle strength and 6 minute walk distance (6 MWD) • To find out the relationship between peripheral muscle strength and quality of life.

Setting

Tertiary setting hospital, SVIMS, Tirupati.

Subjects

30 subjects who met the inclusive criteria with age of 40- 65 years and who perceived the Borg scale dyspnoea grade <5 were selected for this study and were allocated into control and experimental groups.

Method

Functional capacity was measured by six minute walk distance (6MWD), VO2 peak was measured by bicycle ergo meter and quality of life (QOL) was measured by SF- 36(Telugu version) questionnaire. They were administered on first day and again after four weeks. The data was analyzed within the groups and between the groups and results were made.

Results

6MWD, VO2 peak and QOL were significantly increased in both groups after rehabilitation. Conclusion Due to the peripheral muscle strength training there is significant change in 6MWD, VO2 peak and QOL between control and experimental groups. This study shows that there is an improved exercise capacity in COPD due to peripheral muscle strength training.