Strength Training in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Amanda Leigh Correll ABSTRACT STRENGTH TRAINING IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE Thesis under the direction of Michael J. Berry, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of Health and Exercise Science The purpose of this study was to obtain pilot data comparing aerobic exercise to strength training exercise on measures of physical function in COPD patients. Participants included seven patients who participated in the REACT II trial. REACT II was completed in April of 2006 and consisted of a 12-week aerobic training program. These same patients also partook in the current study of a 12-week high intensity progressive resistance training program that met three times a week. Each participant completed, in both the REACT II and current study, the six minute walk test, stair climb test, short physical performance battery and a self-reported physical function questionnaire. A two factor factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with two within factors was used to examine differences in outcome measures. The two within factors were time (baseline and three months) and intervention (aerobic and strength). Results of this study found no significant interactions between aerobic and strength training in COPD patients for the six minute walk distance, stair climb time, short physical performance battery or selfreported physical function. There was a trend (p = 0.07) towards significance for the difference between aerobic and strength intervention six minute walk distances (488.2 ± 45.4 versus 397.9 ± 80.1, respectively). There was also a trend (p = 0.08) towards significance for the difference between aerobic and strength intervention SPPB scores (11.3 ± 0.5 versus 10.3 ± 0.9, respectively). And lastly, there was a trend (p = 0.07) viii towards significance for the difference between baseline and three month physical function questionnaire scores (1.4 ± 0.1 versus 1.3 ± 0.1, respectively). In conclusion, neither aerobic or strength training demonstrated significant improvements in measures of physical function in this study. However, both training groups elicited changes in the expected direction for the measures studied. Further research is needed with a larger sample size to determine the optimal training program for COPD patients.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Correll, Amanda

• Strength training

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/14878

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/14878