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This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-1423v1 133/2/370    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dolmage, T. E. Articles by Goldstein, R. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dolmage, T. E. Articles by Goldstein, R. S. Related Content Related Editorial

The Effects of One-Legged Exercise Training of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

¹Respiratory Diagnostic & Evaluation Services, West Park Healthcare Centre Toronto, Ontario CANADA ²Department of Respiratory Medicine, West Park Healthcare Centre Toronto, Ontario CANADA; and ³Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario CANADA

Tdolmage{at}westpark.org

RGoldstein{at}westpark.org

Abstract

Background: Most patients with severe COPD are limited by dyspnea and obliged to exercise at a low intensity. Even those undergoing training do not usually increase their peak oxygen uptake. One-legged exercise, at half the load of two-legged exercise, places the same metabolic demands on the targeted muscles, but reduces the ventilatory load, enabling patients to increase their work capacity. The purpose was to determine whether one-legged exercise training would improve aerobic capacity compared with two-legged training in stable patients with COPD.

Methods: Eighteen patients with COPD (mean ± SD: FEV₁ = 38 ± 17 %pred) were randomized to two groups, after completing an incremental exercise test. Both trained on a stationary cycle for 30 min, 3 days per week, for 7 wk. Two-legged trainers (n=9) cycled continuously for 30 min, whereas one-legged trainers (n=9) switched legs after 15 min. Intensity was set at the highest tolerated and increased with training.

Results: Both groups increased their training intensity (p<0.001) and total work (p<0.001). After training, the change in peak oxygen uptake of the one-legged group (0.189 [0.089 to 0.290] L·min^-1; p<0.001) was greater than that of the two-legged group (0.006 [-0.095 to 0.106] L·min^-1; p=0.91). This was accompanied by greater peak ventilation (4.4 [1.8 to 7.1] L·min^-1; p<0.01), a lower submaximal heart rate (p<0.05) and ventilation (p<0.05) in the one-legged trained group.

Conclusion: Reducing the total metabolic demand, by using one-legged training, improved aerobic capacity, compared with conventional two-legged training, in patients with stable COPD.

Key Words: Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Rehabilitation, Pulmonary; Physical Conditioning, Human; Muscle, Skeletal; Oxygen Consumption.

Related Editorial

Exercise Training in Patients With COPD: One Leg Is Better Than Two?

M. Jeffery Mador
Chest 2008 133: 337-339. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Mador Exercise Training in Patients With COPD: One Leg Is Better Than Two? Chest, February 1, 2008; 133(2): 337 - 339. [Full Text] [PDF]