Low-Volume Whole-Body Vibration Training Improves Exercise Capacity in Subjects With Mild to Severe COPD.

Author: Spielmanns M1,2, Boeselt T3, Gloeckl R4, Klutsch A5, Fischer H6, Polanski H5, Nell C6, Storre JH7,8, Windisch W2,7, Koczulla AR3
Affiliation:
1Medical Clinic and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Leverkusen (April), Remigius Hospital, Leverkusen Opladen, Germany. spielmanns@k-plus.de.
2Faculty of Health, Department of Pneumology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
3Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
4Department of Respiratory Medicine and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Schoen Klinik Berchtesgadener Land, Schoenau am Koenigssee, Germany and the Department of Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Sports Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
5Medical Clinic and Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Leverkusen (April), Remigius Hospital, Leverkusen Opladen, Germany.
6Department of Medicine, Training and Health, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
7Department of Pneumology, Cologne Merheim Hospital, Kliniken der Stadt Koeln GmbH, Cologne, Germany.
8Department of Pneumology, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
Conference/Journal: Respir Care.
Date published: 2016 Dec 6
Other: Pages: respcare , Word Count: 243


BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the benefits of a low-volume out-patient whole-body vibration training (WBVT) program on exercise capacity in comparison with a calisthenics training program in subjects with COPD.

METHODS: In this single-center randomized controlled trial, 29 subjects with mild to severe COPD were randomized to WBVT or to calisthenics training, including relaxation and breathing retraining in combination with calisthenics exercises. Both groups equally exercised for a duration of 3 months with 2 sessions of 30 min/week. Outcome parameters were 6-min walk distance (6MWD, primary outcome), 5-repetition sit-to-stand test, leg press peak force, Berg balance scale, St George Respiratory Questionnaire, and COPD assessment test.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects completed the study (WBVT, n = 14; calisthenics training program, n = 13). Baseline characteristics between groups were comparable. Subjects in the WBVT group significantly improved median (interquartile range) 6MWD (+105 [45.5-133.5] m, P = .001), sit-to-stand test (-2.3 [-3.1 to -1.3] s, P = .001), peak force (28.7 [16.7-33.3] kg, P = .001), and Berg balance scale (1.5 [0.0-4.0]points, P = .055). Changes in 6MWD, sit-to-stand test, and leg press peak force were also found to be significantly different between groups in favor of the WBVT group. Only the between-group difference of the COPD assessment test score was in favor of the calisthenics training group (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS: A low-volume WBVT program resulted in significantly and clinically relevant larger improvements in exercise capacity compared with calisthenics exercises in subjects with mild to severe COPD.

Copyright © 2016 by Daedalus Enterprises.

KEYWORDS: COPD; exercise test; physical exercise; training

PMID: 27923937 DOI: 10.4187/respcare.05154

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