Abstract
Background
Endurance training (ET) in pulmonary rehabilitation of COPD is known to improve exercise capacity and health related quality of life (HRQoL), but dyspnea limits the training intensity. Therefore, resistance training (RT) may be a feasible alternative in COPD.
Aims
To compare the effects of 1) RT versus ET, and 2) ET plus RT versus ET alone on HRQoL, walking distance, harms, muscle strength and exercise capacity in COPD.
Methods
We identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) from a systematic search. Two review authors independently extracted data, assessed risk of bias and quality of evidence. Meta-analyses were performed if possible. All decisions were made by consensus.
Results
We included 14 RCTs (592 participants). Intervention length was tree to twelve weeks. We found moderate-quality evidence of significant improvements of leg muscle strength (194 participants) in the ET plus RT group versus the ET group (figure 1), but there was very low to moderate-quality evidence of no significant difference in HRQoL, walking distance and exercise capacity. A non-significant trend favoring RT in leg muscle strength was found in the comparison of RT versus ET group (121 participants), standardized mean difference was 0.55 (CI:-0.15 to 1.25), but no difference for all other outcomes.
Conclusion
Adding RT to ET improves leg muscle strength, but does not improve exercise capacity or HRQoL when compared to ET alone.
- © 2014 ERS