Interval versus continuous training in patients with severe COPD: a randomized clinical trial

Limited information is available regarding the physiological responses to different types of exercise training in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was two fold: firstly, to investigate the physiological response to training at 60% of achieved peak load in patients with severe COPD; and secondly to study the effects of interval (I) versus continuous (C) training in these patients. Twenty‐one patients with COPD (mean±sd forced expiratory volume in one second: 37±15% of predicted, normoxaemic at rest) were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks′ training. Patients were randomly allocated to either I or C training. The training was performed on a cycle ergometer, 5 days a week, 30 min daily. The total work load was the same for both training programmes. C training resulted in a significant increase in oxygen consumption (V ′O2) (17%, p