María Hernández

Effects of Combined Resistance and Endurance Training Versus Resistance Training Alone on Strength, Exercise Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With COPD.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of 12-week training periods (2 d·wk−1) involving resistance training only with the effects of 12-week training periods involving combined resistance (once weekly) and endurance (once weekly) training on strength, endurance performance, and quality of life. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomized to combined training (REG), resistance training alone (RG), or control (CG) groups. Patients were tested for maximal strength of the upper and lower extremities, power output of the lower extremities, maximal (W max) and submaximal exercise capacity, performance on a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and quality of life. RESULTS: REG and RG induced similar maximal strength gains. Muscle power increased 19% (P ⩽ .01) and W max improved 13% (P < .05) in REG. Reductions (P < .05) in the heart rate and blood lactate at a given submaximal workload were observed in REG. Improvements in 6MWT and quality of life were similar in both training groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a twice-weekly resistance training program, the combination of once-weekly resistance and once-weekly endurance training not only produced similar gains in maximal strength, 6MWT performance, and quality of life but also produced improvements in muscle power and endurance performance. These findings may have implications for the prescription of resistance and endurance exercise for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Muscle power output in older adults with COPD

Introduction: Skeletal muscle power of the lower extremities decreases earlier than muscle strength with advancing age and is more strongly associated with functional performance of activities of daily living (e.g. rising from a chair, walking speed, and climb stairs) than maximal strength in the elderly population. In addition, increasing skeletal muscle power has been associated with a reduction in falls in older adults. It was hypothesized that skeletal muscle power would more strongly associated with functional exercise capacity than maximal strength in older men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective: To determine the relationship between lower extremity skeletal muscle power and functional exercise capacity. Methods: Thirty-five men (aged 70 ± 5) with moderate to severe COPD were tested for thigh muscle mass, maximal strength (1RM), power output of the lower extremities at 50% and 70% 1RM, six minute walking (6MW) distance, and peak oxygen uptake. Results: The 6MW distance was positively associated with power output at 50% 1RM (r= 0.64; p Conclusions: Muscle power output is strongly associated with the 6MW distance than maximal strength. Furthermore, pulmonary rehabilitation programs that include lower extremity muscle power training should be prescribed to older adults with COPD. Support by of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science DEP2011-30042-C02-01; DEP2011-30042-C01-02.