Effects of resistance training on the functional capacity of hospitalized COPD patients: systematic review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been described as a form of treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with resistance training as its main component. Although the importance and real benefits of a rehabilitation program are clear in the literature, it is often only started after hospital discharge, postponing the potential effects and intensifying the patient's functional impairment. OBJECTIVE: Systematically review publications in the literature regarding the effects of resistance training on the functional capacity of patients with COPD, considering the feasibility, safety and characteristics of exercise prescription during the rehabilitation process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a systematic review study (CRD42020158760) of the effects of resistance training on the functional capacity of patients with COPD. Scientific articles were selected from september 2018 to february 2019 that contained the following descriptors: “COPD”, “resistance training”, “muscle weakness”, hospitalization ”and“ hospital ”. RESULTS: Two studies were included in this systematic review meeting the eligibility criteria. Both used the 6-minute walk test as a means of assessing functional capacity and had favorable effects on training initiated in a hospital setting. CONCLUSION: Resistance training was able to improve functional capacity reflecting on the improvement in the performance of activities of daily living and quality of life. It has been shown to be safe, feasible to implement and without risk for adverse events.