ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of rehabilitation exercise combined with resistance training on the postoperative recovery and quality of life among patients with pulmonary nodules.Methods:A randomized controlled study was conducted on 90 patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary nodules at Zhejiang Veteran Hospital between January 2022 and April 2023. Patients were randomly allocated into an observation group and a control group, with 45 patients in each group using the random number table method. The control group underwent routine rehabilitation exercise, whereas the observation group received resistance training combined with routine rehabilitation exercise. All patients were treated for 1 week. The incidence of postoperative complications and the changes in lung function, exercise endurance, and quality of life from baseline levels were compared between the two groups.Results:The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group [6.7% (3/45) vs. 24.4% (11/45), χ2 = 5.41, P = 0.020). After intervention, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second, maximal voluntary ventilation per minute, and forced vital capacity in the observation group were (83.84 ± 4.35)%, (96.53 ± 3.45) L/min, and (2.87 ± 0.16) L, respectively, which were higher than those in the control group [(78.98 ± 4.01)%, (92.13 ± 3.08) L/min, (2.62 ± 0.19) L, t = -5.51, -6.38, -6.75, all P < 0.001]. Additionally, the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea score in the observation group was (0.42 ± 0.13) points, which was significantly lower than that in the control group [(0.87 ± 0.19) points, t = 13.11, P < 0.001). The modified Barthel index score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(89.53 ± 3.67) points vs. (82.94 ± 4.23) points, t = -7.89, P < 0.001). Conclusion:The combination of rehabilitation exercise and resistance training can effectively enhance lung function, exercise endurance, and overall quality of life in patients with pulmonary nodules. Furthermore, this combined therapy markedly reduces postoperative complications.