Objective:To observe the impact of upper limb resistance exercise on the exercise tolerance, muscle strength and life quality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) so as to provide a reference for optimizing their rehabilitation plans.Methods:Fifty-eight COPD patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 29. Both groups were given routine pulmonary rehabilitation training (including lip retraction and abdominal breathing) for 12 weeks, while the observation group also performed upper limb resistance exercises. Before and after the intervention, both groups were evaluated using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC). Lung function, respiratory muscle strength and upper limb muscle strength were also measured.Results:After the intervention there was a significant increase in the average 6MWT distance, maximum inspiration pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and upper limb muscle strength among the observation group. In the control group, maximum inspiration pressure and the average the dyspnea mMRC score had improved. The observation group showed a significant decrease in the average heart rate after the 6MWT, and in average dyspnea mMRC and SGRQ scores. So after the intervention there were significant differences between the groups in terms of 6MWT distance (312.3±50.2m), maximum inspiratory pressure (96.8±11.3cmH 2O), maximum expiratory pressure (88.6±11.3cmH 2O), heart rate after the 6MWT (113.8±4.9beats/min) and SGRQ score. Conclusions:Adding upper limb resistance exercise to routine pulmonary rehabilitation can further improve the exercise tolerance, respiratory muscle strength, upper limb muscle strength and life quality of COPD patients. Therefore, such therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To observe the impact of upper limb resistance exercise on the exercise tolerance, muscle strength and life quality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) so as to provide a reference for optimizing their rehabilitation plans.Methods:Fifty-eight COPD patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, each of 29. Both groups were given routine pulmonary rehabilitation training (including lip retraction and abdominal breathing) for 12 weeks, while the observation group also performed upper limb resistance exercises. Before and after the intervention, both groups were evaluated using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC). Lung function, respiratory muscle strength and upper limb muscle strength were also measured.Results:After the intervention there was a significant increase in the average 6MWT distance, maximum inspiration pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and upper limb muscle strength among the observation group. In the control group, maximum inspiration pressure and the average the dyspnea mMRC score had improved. The observation group showed a significant decrease in the average heart rate after the 6MWT, and in average dyspnea mMRC and SGRQ scores. So after the intervention there were significant differences between the groups in terms of 6MWT distance (312.3±50.2m), maximum inspiratory pressure (96.8±11.3cmH 2O), maximum expiratory pressure (88.6±11.3cmH 2O), heart rate after the 6MWT (113.8±4.9beats/min) and SGRQ score. Conclusions:Adding upper limb resistance exercise to routine pulmonary rehabilitation can further improve the exercise tolerance, respiratory muscle strength, upper limb muscle strength and life quality of COPD patients. Therefore, such therapy is worthy of clinical promotion and application.