Background: Passive training of specific locomotor muscle groups by means of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) might be better tolerated than whole body exercise in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It was hypothesised that this novel strategy would be particularly effective in improving functional impairment and the consequent disability which characterises patients with end stage COPD. Methods: Fifteen patients with advanced COPD (nine men) were randomly assigned to either a home based 6 week quadriceps femoris NMES training programme (group 1, n=9, FEV 1 =38.0 (9.6)% of predicted) or a 6 week control period before receiving NMES (group 2, n=6, FEV 1 =39.5 (13.3)% of predicted). Knee extensor strength and endurance, whole body exercise capacity, and health related quality of life (Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, CRDQ) were assessed. Results: All patients were able to complete the NMES training programme successfully, even in the presence of exacerbations (n=4). Training was associated with significant improvements in muscle function, maximal and endurance exercise tolerance, and the dyspnoea domain of the CRDQ (p<0.05). Improvements in muscle performance and exercise capacity after NMES correlated well with a reduction in perception of leg effort corrected for exercise intensity (p<0.01). Conclusions: For severely disabled COPD patients with incapacitating dyspnoea, short term electrical stimulation of selected lower limb muscles involved in ambulation can improve muscle strength and endurance, whole body exercise tolerance, and breathlessness during activities of daily living.

L Lo ow w i in nt te en ns si it ty y p pe er ri ip ph he er ra al l m mu us sc cl le e c co on nd di it ti io on ni in ng g i im mp pr ro ov ve es s e ex xe er rc ci is se e t to ol le er ra an nc ce e a an nd d b br re ea at th hl le es ss sn ne es ss s i in n C CO OP PD D ABSTRACT: This randomized, controlled study investigated the physiological effects of a specially designed 12 week programme of isolated conditioning of peripheral skeletal muscle groups. The programme required minimal infrastructure in order to allow continued rehabilitation at home after familiarization within hospital. Forty eight patients, aged 40-72 yrs with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 61 (27)% of predicted normal) were randomly allocated into training (n=32) and control (n=16) groups. Physiological assessments were performed before and after the 12 week study period, and included peripheral muscle endurance and strength, whole body endurance, maximal exercise capacity (maximum oxygen consumption (V ' 'O 2 ,max)) and lung function.The training group showed significant improvement in a variety of measures of upper and lower peripheral muscle performance, with no additional breathlessness. Whole body endurance measured by free arm treadmill walking increased by 6,372 (3,932-8,812) J (p<0.001). Symptom-limited maximal V ' 'O 2 was unchanged. However, the training group showed a reduction in ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide, both at peak exercise and at equivalent work rate (Wmax).In summary, low intensity isolated peripheral muscle conditioning is well-tolerated, simple and easy to perform at home. The various physiological benefits should enable patients across the range of severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to improve daily functioning.

This study poses two questions: 1) is there an abnormality in isokinetic skeletal muscle strength and endurance in mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)? and 2) what is the effect of a randomized, controlled, 12 week hospital outpatient weight training programme in terms of skeletal muscle function and exercise tolerance?Upper and lower limb isokinetic maximum and sustained muscle function were compared in 43 COPD patients (age 4911 yrs), mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 7723% pred and 52 healthy, sedentary subjects (age 51 (10) yrs), mean FEV1 10916% pred. The 43 COPD patients were randomly allocated into training (n=26) and control (n=17) groups. Isokinetic and isotonic muscle function, whole body endurance, maximal exercise capacity and lung function were measured.The COPD patients had reduced isokinetic muscle function (with the exception of sustained upper limb strength) as compared with healthy sedentary subjects. Muscle function improved after weight training in the COPD patients. Whole body endurance during treadmill walking also improved with no change in maximal oxygen consumption.A deficit in skeletal muscle function can be identified in patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which cannot be explained by factors such as hypoxaemia and malnutrition. Intervention with weight training is effective in countering this deficit which the authors conclude is probably due to muscle deconditioning. Eur Respir J 2000; 15: 92±97.

In summary, when considering rehabilitation attendance, potential participants are able to identify possible benefits, but previous experiences of symptoms and attitudes towards their condition can influence views both positively and negatively. Information and enthusiasm conveyed by the referring clinician, as well as previous interactions with health professionals can have powerful impact on views about attending. Referral practices should be informative and enthusiastic to increase the likelihood of uptake.

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