WEIGHTLIFTING TRAINING IN CHRONIC AIRFLOW OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

The exercise capacity of patients with chronic airflow obstruction is often limited by leg fatigue. The disability associated with the continuous rate of degeneration of lung function is aggravated by the natural aging process and a reduction in physical activity. A decline in strength and endurance capacity increases the stress of performing day to day activities and may reduce the time the patient can remain self sufficient. This study examined the effectiveness of progressive resistance muscle strength training as a mode of exercise in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD). Exercise endurance, quality of life and strength assessment were used as the measurements of outcome. The effects of 8 weeks (24 sessions) of progressive resistance exercises involving upper and lower body extremities of 17 COLD patients (WTTR) were compared with 17 matched COLD, control patients. In the WTTR group the maximum weightlifting strength (1 RM) in single-arm curl, single-knee extension and single-leg press exercises increased by 31 per cent (12.1 + 1.2 to 15.9 + 1.5 kg; p < 0.01), 45 per cent (17.8 + 3.0 to 25.8 + 3.9 kg; p < 0.01), and 16 per cent (106.2 + 7.8 to 123.4 + 8.7 kg; p < 0.01); respectively. There was a 9 per cent increase in the distance walked in 6 minutes in the WTTR group and only a 2 per cent increase in the control group (390.9 + 22.5 to 426.9 + 27.2 m,; N.S. and 368.9 + 32.0 to 376.0 + 32.0 m; N.S.). A significant 73 per cent increase in cycling time at 80 per cent of maximum power output to symptom limitation was observed in the WTTR group (518 + 69 to 898 + 95 sec; p < 0.01). Improvements in the WTTR group subjective evaluations in the domains of dyspnea, fatigue and mastery were recorded from the responses to a chronic respiratory index questionnaire. In these patients with COLD, progressive resistance weightlifting exercise was associated with an increase in submaximal exercise time with attendant reductions in feelings of breathlessness and fatigue. The results of this study indicate that weightlifting training may be , useful as part of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation programme.