Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD

Sally L Wootton; L W Cindy Ng; Zoe J McKeough; Sue Jenkins; Kylie Hill; Peter R Eastwood; David R Hillman; Nola Cecins; Lissa M Spencer; Christine Jenkins; Jennifer A Alison

doi:10.1183/09031936.00078014

Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD

Eur Respir J. 2014 Oct;44(4):885-94. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00078014. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Chronic Disease Community Rehabilitation Service, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.
² Physiotherapy Dept, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia.
³ Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia Physiotherapy Dept, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia Lung Institute of Western Australia and Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
⁵ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia Lung Institute of Western Australia and Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
⁶ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia Dept of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia Centre for Sleep Science, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
⁷ Dept of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia.
⁸ Physiotherapy Dept, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia Lung Institute of Western Australia and Centre for Asthma, Allergy and Respiratory Research, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia Community Physiotherapy Services, Perth, Australia.
⁹ Physiotherapy Dept, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ Dept of Thoracic Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
¹¹ Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Physiotherapy Dept, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia Jennifer.alison@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 25142484
DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00078014

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effect of ground-based walking training on health-related quality of life and exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with COPD were randomised to either a walking group that received supervised, ground-based walking training two to three times a week for 8-10 weeks, or a control group that received usual medical care and did not participate in exercise training. 130 out of 143 participants (mean±sd age 69±8 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 43±15% predicted) completed the study. Compared to the control group, the walking group demonstrated greater improvements in the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score (mean difference -6 points (95% CI -10- -2), p<0.003), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire total score (mean difference 7 points (95% CI 2-11), p<0.01) and endurance shuttle walk test time (mean difference 208 s (95% CI 104-313), p<0.001). This study shows that ground-based walking training is an effective training modality that improves quality of life and endurance exercise capacity in people with COPD.

©ERS 2014.

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Double-Blind Method
Exercise Therapy*
Exercise Tolerance*
Humans
Prospective Studies
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / physiopathology*
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / rehabilitation*
Quality of Life*
Walking*