Exercise training is an important component of the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and numerous trials have shown large improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise capacity in persons with COPD. However, the great majority of patients who would benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) never follow such a program. Moreover, many COPD patients are either not instructed to exercise at all or fail to adhere to exercise training at home after completing pulmonary rehabilitation.
This study evaluates an exercise training program that requires minimal equipment (i.e., only a chair and elastic bands) and can be easily implemented long-term in the patient's home-setting.
