Arm Training in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Summary

Patients with chronic lung disease often report shortness of breath when they use their arms for simple activities of daily living such as dressing, lifting, shaving, bathing and brushing their hair and teeth. The best type of arm training for these patients is still unknown.

The objectives of this study are to:

* develop a feasible and safe arm training program (ATP) for these patients;
* examine the effects of this ATP on quality of life, arm function, arm exercise capacity and symptoms during activities of daily living;
* examine the effects of ATP on breathing responses during arm exercises.

Conditions

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Arm training program

Patients will undergo a specific arm training program (ATP) three times a week for the duration of the 6 week program. The ATP will consist predominantly of resistance exercises. Muscle groups targeted during the ATP will include deltoid, biceps and triceps, pectoralis and latissimus. Subjects will train using multi station gym equipment and free weights.

BEHAVIORAL

Purdue pegboard test (sham)

In an attempt to make the groups comparable in terms of attention, the control group will perform the purdue pegboard test of finger dexterity. The tasks will be performed in a sitting position with the arms supported on a table. This test will consist of 4 timed tasks where as many pins as possible will be placed on a pegboard in a given time. Performance of the pegboard test is likely to improve with practice which may serve to motivate the patients to continue practicing over the 6-week period. Subjects will perform this activity 3 times per week with supervision provided by a physiotherapist.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• West Park Healthcare Centre

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Roger Goldstein, M.D. · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Dina Brooks, Ph.D. · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Tania Janaudis-Ferreira, Msc · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Kylie Hill, Ph.D. · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Tom Dolmage, Msc · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Marla Beauchamp, Msc · West Park Healthcare Centre

• Karin Wadell, Ph.D. · Umea University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2008-07-31

Primary Completion

2010-01-31

Completion

2010-01-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations