COPDExercise For Health.

Q: What is COPD?

A: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is

characterized by persistently limited airflow. It is

associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory

response in the airways and lungs to noxious

particles or gases. This can lead to tissue destruction

in the lungs (and emphysema), and disrupt normal

repair (causing fibrosis of the small airways)

Q: Why might exercise beuseful for patients with

COPD?

A: Individuals with COPD suffer from a progressive

decline in exercise capacity, muscular strength and

endurance. They display alterations in skeletal

muscle morphology that compromise the

maintenance of muscle mass. They often display

comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease,

diabetes and hypertension

Q: What are the riskfactors for COPD?

A: Risk factors for developing COPD include: a

history of smoking and passive smoking, working in

occupations with exposure to dust and fumes

(particularly biological dust), exposure to biomass

fuels, advanced age, asthma, being underweight and

the presence of chronic cough/phlegm

Q: What is pulmonaryrehabilitation?

A: Pulmonary rehabilitation is an evidence-based

intervention for patients with chronic respiratory

diseases. It is designed to reduce symptoms,

optimize functional status, increase participation and

reduce health-care costs by stabilizing or reversing

systemic manifestations of the disease

Q: Is aerobic exerciseuseful for patients with

COPD?

A: Aerobic exercise training in individuals with

COPD is able to increase tidal volume and reduce

respiratory rate, thereby producing a more

efficient exercise breathing pattern, as well as

improve VO2-max

Q: Is interval traininguseful for individuals with

COPD?

A: Interval training appears able to

improve lactate threshold,

maximum work load and quality of

life in patients with COPD

Q: Is resistance-traininguseful for individuals with

COPD?

A: Resistance training can improve

dyspnea, activities of daily living,

strength, 6-minute walking distance,

maximum workload, and health-

related quality of life in individuals

with COPD

Q: Is inspiratory muscletraining useful for

individuals with COPD?

A: Inspiratory muscle training exercise can

increase inspiratory muscle strength,

inspiratory muscle endurance, exercise

capacity, maximum work rate, and

dyspnea, which may be beneficial for

individuals with COPD

Q: What are currentexercise guidelines for

individuals with COPD?

A: Exercise training is recommended in

normal treatment for COPD, with

rehabilitation periods involving high-

intensity lower body aerobic exercise

and strength-training interventions

For more information:www.exercise-for-health.com/copd

Exercise For Health.