Exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A prospective, randomized and controlled study has been performed in 28 pat ients with severe CORD. A group of 14 has been trained with their lower lim bs (LL), while another similar group of 14 patients was also trained with t heir upper limbs (UL). Results showed improvement in both groups in the end urance test for LL, dyspnea scale, efficiency and muscular working capacity . A considerable improvement was observed in the oxygen uptake at the anero bic threshold (VO(2)AT) which suggests a training effect, expressed through an improvement in exercise tolerance. Only the group who trained UL showed a remarkable improvement in the dyspnea scale, endurance test and maximal static mouth pressure, showing a better intrinsic working capacity and part icipation of the UL muscles producing those manoeuvres. At the end of train ing, quality of life was significantly increased and the hospitalization ra te was lower in both groups. According to these findings, it is suggested t hat patients with severe CORD included in training programmes add UL exerci ses to the LL usually carried out.