Exercise assessments and trainings of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: a literature review

• Main Authors: Zeng Y, Jiang F, Chen Y, Chen P, Cai S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-06-01
• Series: International Journal of COPD
• Subjects: COPD; pulmonary rehabilitation; exercise assessment; exercise training
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/exercise-assessments-and-trainings-of-pulmonary-rehabilitation-in-copd-peer-reviewed-article-COPD

Yuqin Zeng,1–3 Fen Jiang,1–3 Yan Chen,1–3 Ping Chen,1–3 Shan Cai1–3 1Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China; 2Research Unit of Respiratory Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; 3Hunan Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Respiratory Disease, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China Abstract: Skeletal muscle dysfunction leads to reduction in activity in patients with COPD. As an essential part of the management of COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) alleviates dyspnea and fatigue, improves exercise tolerance and health-related quality of life, and reduces hospital admissions and mortality for COPD patients. Exercise is the key component of PR, which is composed of exercise assessment and training therapy. To evaluate PR’s application in clinical practice, this article summarizes the common methods of exercise measurement and exercise training for patients with COPD. Exercise assessments should calculate patients’ symptoms, endurance, strength, and health-related quality of life. After calculation, detailed exercise therapies should be developed, which may involve endurance, strength, and respiratory training. The detailed exercise training of each modality is mentioned in this review. Although various methods and therapies of PR have been used in COPD patients, developing an individualized exercise training prescription is the target. More studies are warranted to support the evidence and examine the effects of long-term benefits of exercise training for patients with COPD in each stage. Keywords: COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise assessment, exercise training