Exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Several important differences exist between the training responses in normal patients and in patients with COPD. Important among these is the lack of cardiovascular and metabolic changes in patients with COPD. Despite this, important and significant improvements do occur in exercise endurance after exercise training programs. Experience has shown that simple forms of exercise training and testing are effective and safe. These can be done without the use of complicated and expensive equipment. Although elaborate programs may use several professionals including physicians, respiratory nurse specialists, occupational and physical therapists, and dietitians, they are not essential, and success can be achieved with a modest number of personnel provided they are well trained and motivated. The fact that both exercise training and exercise testing can be done in a relatively simple fashion should make this modality of treatment more widely available than is currently the case.