Effects of upper limb resistance exercise on aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life in COPD patients: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate the effects of upper limb resistance exercise on the functional capacity, muscle function, and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Setting: Clinical School of Physiotherapy in a Public University of Brazil. Subjects: 58 patients were recruited; of these, 7 were excluded and 51 individuals were enrolled. Intervention: Control group performed warm-up, aerobic exercise, inspiratory muscle training, and session stretching, followed by massage therapy. The treatment group performed warm-up, aerobic exercise, inspiratory muscle training, three sets of upper limb resistance exercise, and session stretching, followed by massage therapy. Total three sessions per week for eight weeks. Primary outcome measures: 6-minute walk test, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea, and quality of life. Normality of the data was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test; paired analysis of variance was used for intergroup analyses. Results: 51 patients (25 in the control group and 26 in the treatment group); 41% of the subjects were men. Mean forced expiratory volume was 2.6 ± 0.6 L, and mean body mass index was 27.3 ± 7.0 kg/m2. The upper limb resistance exercise resulted in significantly greater benefit in terms of exercise capacity (88.5 ± 81.9 m, P = 0.043), inspiratory muscle strength (22.9 ± 24.2 cm H2O, P = 0.001), upper limb muscle strength (2.3 ± 3.1 kg, P = 0.027), and quality of life scores (−15.3 ± 10.9 points, P = 0.000). Conclusion: Upper limb resistance exercise improved the exercise capacity, respiratory muscle strength, and quality of life.