Dynamics of Changes in Physical Capacity of Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease during Physical Therapy

Abstract

The purpose of the study was the assessment of the proposed physical therapy on physical capacity of pa- tients having severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One hundred and twenty-four (124) pa- tients having severe COPD were examined. All patients underwent standard clinical, laboratory and functional examination. Physical capacity of patients was assessed by the 6-minutes walking distance (6MWD). Application of physical therapy with patients having COPD resulted in a statistically significant greater dynamics of growth of the distance traveled at 6 MWD with both men - by 104.66-9.24 m (at standard treatment - by 57.07-8.99 m; p <0.001), and women - by 81.17-8.35 m (at standard treatment - by 44.97-6.67 m; p<0.001). Compared to standard treatment, patients of the main group increased their physical capacity (both men and women) 1.8 times, and the achieved state of their physical abilities (511.2-9.38 m; 100.9-1, 96% of the appropriate value (AV)) significantly exceeded the one at standard treatment (481.5-10.59 m; 94.57-1.99% of AV; p<0.01). Physical therapy, which is used with patients having severe COPD, results in an increase in their physical abilities, which significantly improve compared to standard treatment.