High-intensity lower limb endurance training in chronic respiratory disease

Abstract

High-intensity endurance training is mainly undertaken during pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic respiratory disease. High-intensity endurance training is recommended in many clinical management guidelines. High-intensity endurance training involves training generally at an intensity of at 60-80％ of the patient’s peak work capacity or higher. The effects of high-intensity lower limb endurance training have mostly been investigated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） patients. High-intensity endurance training is more effective than low-intensity endurance training in terms of achieving physiologic gains. According to meta-analyses of studies in patients with chronic respiratory disease, this type of training results in improvements in range of exercise measures, health-related quality of life and dyspnea. There is also some evidence to support the benefits of highintensity endurance training patients suffering from chronic respiratory diseases other than COPD, such as in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension patient