Biomedical subjects

F Pitta

Publications and source records attributed to F Pitta.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Cardiopulmonary stress during exercise training in patients with COPD.

Exercise training is an essential component of pulmonary rehabilitation. However, the cardiopulmonary stress imposed during different modalities of exercise training is not yet known. In the present study, the cardiopulmonary stress of a 12-week exercise training programme in 11 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (forced expiratory volume in one second 42+/-12%pred, age 69+/-6 yrs) was measured. Pulmonary gas exchange and cardiac frequency (f(C)) of three training sessions were measured with a portable metabolic system at the beginning, mid-term and end of the programme. Symptoms were assessed with Borg scores. The exercise intensity was compared with the recommendations for exercise training by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Training effects were significant (maximum change in work: 14+/-11 Watts, 6-min walk test: 44+/-36 m). Whole body exercises (cycling, walking and stair climbing) consistently resulted in higher cardiopulmonary stress (oxygen uptake (V'(O(2))), minute ventilation and f(C)) than arm cranking and resistance training. Dyspnoea was higher during cycling than resistance training. Patients exercised for >70% (>20 min) of the total exercise time at >40% of the V'(O(2)) reserve and f(C) reserve ("moderate" intensity according to the ACSM) throughout the programme. The cardiopulmonary stress resistance training is lower than during whole-body exercise and results in fewer symptoms. In addition, exercise testing based on guidelines using a fixed percentage of baseline peak performance and symptom scores achieves and sustains training intensities recommended according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Quantifying physical activity in daily life with questionnaires and motion sensors in COPD.

Accurate assessment of the amount and intensity of physical activity in daily life is considered very important due to the close relationship between physical activity level, health, disability and mortality. For this reason, assessment of physical activity in daily life has gained interest in recent years, especially in sedentary populations, such as patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The present article aims to compare and discuss the two kinds of instruments more commonly used to quantify the amount of physical activity performed by COPD patients in daily life: subjective methods (questionnaires, diaries) and motion sensors (electronic or mechanical methods). Their characteristics are summarised and evidence of their validity, reliability and sensitivity is discussed, when available. Subjective methods have practical value mainly in providing the patients' view on their performance in activities of daily living and functional status. However, care must be taken when using subjective methods to accurately quantify the amount of daily physical activity performed. More accurate information is likely to be available with motion sensors rather than questionnaires. The selection of which motion sensor to use for quantification of physical activity in daily life should depend mainly on the purpose of its use.

Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System↗

PubMed2004

[Exercise effort training for COPD: physiological basis and results].

INTRODUCTION: In the last decade pulmonary rehabilitation has become a well accepted treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffering from persistent dyspnea and fatigue, despite appropriate medical treatment. STATE OF ART: Patients with COPD frequently have muscular dysfunction that can be corrected by appropriate exercise training programmes. Muscle function as measured by strength and endurance tests exercise capacity and also the health status and quality of life are improved by exercise and endurance training. However, integration of exercise training in a multidisciplinary management programme is necessary to take account of all aspects of the illness. PERSPECTIVES: Methods of exercise training need to be adapted for patients with severe COPD who are unable to undertake endurance training and for patients who obtain little benefit. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation, thanks to its multidisciplinary nature, seems to be an effective modality of management for patients with COPD. However, the improvements in physical ability, quality of life and general health require an exercise training programme that is adapted for the individual patient.

Breathing Exercises↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of isolated cycle ergometer training on patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs are beneficial to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lower-extremity training is considered a fundamental component of PR. Nevertheless, the isolated effects of each PR component are not well established. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of a cycle ergometry exercise protocol as the only intervention in a group of COPD patients, and to compare these results with a control group. METHODS: 25 moderate-to-severe COPD patients were evaluated regarding pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, quality of life and body composition. Patients were allocated to one of two groups: (a) the trained group (TG; n = 13; 6 men) was submitted to a protocol of 24 exercise sessions on a cycle ergometer, with training intensity initially set at a heart rate (HR) close to 80% of maximal HR achieved in a maximal test, and load increase based on dyspnea scores, and (b) the control group (CG; n = 12; 6 men) with no intervention during the protocol period. RESULTS: TG showed within-group significant improvements in endurance cycling time, 6-min walking distance test, maximal inspiratory pressure and in the domain 'dyspnea' related to quality of life. Despite the within-group changes, no between-group significant differences were observed. CONCLUSION: In COPD patients, the results of isolated low-to-moderate intensity cycle ergometer training are not comparable to effects of multimodality and high-intensity training programs.

Aged↗