Effect of endurance versus resistance training on quadriceps muscle dysfunction in COPD: a pilot study

• Published in: International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2016-01, Vol.11 (1), p.2659-2669
• Main Authors: Iepsen, Ulrik Winning, Munch, Gregers Druedal Wibe, Rugbjerg, Mette, Rinnov, Anders Rasmussen, Zacho, Morten, Mortensen, Stefan Peter, Secher, Niels H, Ringbaek, Thomas, Pedersen, Bente Klarlund, Hellsten, Ylva, Lange, Peter, Thaning, Pia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Antibodies; Biopsy; Body composition; Capillaries - physiopathology; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical trials; COPD; Denmark; endurance training; Energy Metabolism; exercise; Exercise Tolerance; Female; Fitness training programs; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung - physiopathology; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Original Research; Oxidation-Reduction; Phenotype; Physical Endurance; Pilot Projects; Proteins; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - diagnosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - therapy; Quadriceps Muscle - blood supply; Quadriceps Muscle - metabolism; Quadriceps Muscle - physiopathology; Quality of life; Recovery of Function; Regional Blood Flow; Resistance Training; skeletal muscle dysfunction; Strength training; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonic imaging; Vital Capacity; Walk Test; Weight training; Workloads
• ISSN: 1178-2005; 1176-9106; 1178-2005
• DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S114351

Exercise is an important countermeasure to limb muscle dysfunction in COPD. The two major training modalities in COPD rehabilitation, endurance training (ET) and resistance training (RT), may both be efficient in improving muscle strength, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life, but the effects on quadriceps muscle characteristics have not been thoroughly described. Thirty COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 second: 56% of predicted, standard deviation [SD] 14) were randomized to 8 weeks of ET or RT. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before and after the training intervention to assess muscle morphology and metabolic and angiogenic factors. Symptom burden, exercise capacity (6-minute walking and cycle ergometer tests), and vascular function were also assessed. Both training modalities improved symptom burden and exercise capacity with no difference between the two groups. The mean (SD) proportion of glycolytic type IIa muscle fibers was reduced after ET (from 48% [SD 11] to 42% [SD 10],