Hitomi Takahashi, RPT, Keiyu Sugawara, RPT, MS, Masahiro Satake, RPT, PhD, Takanobu
Shioya, MD, PhD, Hitoshi Kagaya, MD, DMSc, Masahito Kawatani, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2: 5-12, 2011
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate
the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR),
consisting of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) sitting calisthenics (CSC), which are
performed in a seated position by outpatients with
stable COPD.
Methods: Sixty-seven males with stable COPD
undergoing outpatient treatment were recruited. They
were randomly assigned to either a calisthenics group
(n = 35), which underwent PR consisting of CSC
performed at home for 3 months and an educational
program at the outpatient department, or a control
group (n = 32) that underwent only a monthly outpatient
educational program.
Results: The peak oxygen uptake (VO2) values for the
aerobic CSC performed at target dyspnea ratings of 2
were 39.4-52.1% of the peak VO2 values obtained
from the 6-min walking test; these fi ndings indicated
that the calisthenics were low-intensity exercises. The
actual home implementation rates of CSC were as
follows: stretching, 92.0%; arm strength training,
40.4%; leg strength training, 44.2%; and aerobic
exercise, 76.2%. A signifi cant improvement was noted
in VC, %VC, FVC, FRC, RV, RV/TLC, 6MWD and
CRQ after 3 months of PR in the calisthenics group,
whereas no signifi cant change was observed in any
parameter in the control group.
Conclusion: CSC is an effective treatment strategy in
patients with stable COPD.
Key words: COPD, pulmonary rehabilitation, lowintensity calisthenics