Effect of Aerobic Training versus Resisted Exercises on Peak Expiratory Flow Rate on Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract Background: Rehabilitation of pulmonary diseases has several types and is beneficial for COPD patients to enhance their level of daily activity, and getting back independence, social integration, self-confidence and mental abilities. The primary shape of pulmonary rehabilitation is exercise which may be aerobic that depends mainly on oxygen for production of energy through a low to high intensity, or resisted exercises which aim to improve strength of skeletal muscles, and till now There is a wide debate about the preference of both exercise shapes over each other. Aim of Study: Comparison between the effect of aerobic training and resisted exercises on peak expiratory flow rate on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subject and Methods: This study is a cross sectional study. Forty male patients, aged 30-40 years, suffer from moderate COPD (FEV1 is 50%-80% of predicted value), were recruited from Outpatient Clinic of Chest Medicine, Al-Zahraa Univer-sity Hospital. Practical work was done from October 2020 till February 2021. They were assigned into two equal groups. Group (A) received aerobic training in the form of jogging on elliptical trainer at intensity of 60-70% of maximum heart rate for twelve weeks (3 days per week). Group (B) received resisted exercises by elastic rubber bands with intensity of 60% of one repetition maximum for twelve weeks (3 days per week). Peak expiratory flow rate was measured for each patient in the two groups before and after completion of the treatment program, it was measured by the Peak Flow Meter. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in the PEFR in both groups (A and B) with p-value=0.001 in both groups, also the post PEFR of Group A is statistically higher than that of Group B with p-value=0.006. Conclusion: Both aerobic and resisted exercises has positive effects on ventilator functions, exercise tolerance, and dyspnea level, but aerobic training is better than resisted exercises in improvement of peak expiratory flow rate.