PHYSICAL-TRAINING FAILS TO IMPROVE VENTILATORY MUSCLE ENDURANCE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

Effect of arm and leg exercise training on ventilatory muscle performance was examined in 15 patients with symptomatic COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. Eight patients trained their arms while 7 trained their legs for 6 wk. Before and after the training, exercise and pulmonary function, including the maximal sustained ventilatory capacity (MSVC), were measured. After training there was no significant change in spirometric values and lung volumes. The mean endurance workload performed for 20 min increased significantly in the arm and leg trained groups (14.4 .+-. 2.4 to 24.8 .+-. 2.5 W, P < 0.01 and 26.1 .+-. 2.4 to 44.4 .+-. 2.5 W, P < 0.01, respectively). Despite the increase in endurance, no significant change was noted in the MSVC (46 .+-. 5 to 51 .+-. 5 for the arm trainers and 36 .+-. 2 to 39 .+-. 1 for the leg trainers). Nonventilatory muscle exercise such as arm and leg cycling does not improve ventilatory muscle endurance. Increased exercise endurance may occur independent of changes in ventilatory muscle endurance.