Effects of complementary whole-body vibration training in patients after lung transplantation: A randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, some studies have shown that whole-body vibration training (WBVT) may be a beneficial training mode in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effects of WBVT in patients after lung transplantation (LTx) have not yet been investigated. METHODS: Eighty-three LTx patients (56 ± 7 years of age, 51% male, 10 ± 12 weeks post-LTx, forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] 68 ± 20 percent predicted [% pred], baseline 6-minute walk distance [6MWD] 350 ± 120 meters) admitted to a 4-week inpatient multidisciplinary program of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) performed supervised endurance and strength training on 5 days per week. In addition, patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 supervised intervention groups on 3 days/week: (1) 4 × 2 minutes of bilateral dynamic squat exercises on a side-alternating vibration platform at 24 to 26 Hz (WBVT); and (2) a control group (CON) with the same amount of exercise time on the floor. RESULTS: Seventy patients completed the study (WBVT: n = 34; CON: n = 36). Improvement in 6MWD was significantly (p = 0.029) higher in the WBVT group (83.5 meters [95% CI 65.4 to 101.7]) compared with the CON group (55.2 m [95% CI 37.5 to 72.8]). Also, peak work rate increased significantly (p = 0.042) more in the WBVT group (16.8 W [95% CI 13.5 to 20.5]) than in the CON group (12.6 W [95% CI 9.0 to 16.1]). No adverse events related to the intervention occurred during the study. CONCLUSIONS: A complementary WBVT on top of conventional endurance and strength training seems to be a feasible and safe exercise modality in patients after LTx. Furthermore, it may even enhance the benefits of a comprehensive PR on exercise capacity.

Benefits of an oxygen reservoir cannula versus a conventional nasal cannula during exercise in hypoxemic COPD patients: a crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: The Oxymizer® is a special nasal cannula that provides a higher luminal diameter in combination with an incorporated oxygen (O2) reservoir. It is assumed that a higher O2 concentration can be delivered breath by breath in order to increase oxygenation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the effects of the Oxymizer on endurance time in comparison to a conventional nasal cannula (CNC). METHODS: Forty-three patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, age 60 ± 9 years, FEV1 37 ± 16% pred.) and indications for LTOT were recruited during pulmonary rehabilitation for this cross-over study. After an initial maximal incremental cycle test, all patients performed 4 cycling endurance time tests at 70% of their peak work rate (twice with the Oxymizer and twice with a CNC, in reverse order). RESULTS: The endurance time was significantly higher when patients cycled while using the Oxymizer in comparison to while using the CNC [858 ± 754 vs. 766 ± 652 s; between-group difference 92 s (95% confidence interval 32-152), p < 0.001]. In addition to a longer cycling duration, O2 saturation at isotime was significantly higher with the Oxymizer (93.5 ± 5.4 vs. 90.4 ± 5.3%; p = 0.027). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation (r = 0.427, p = 0.002) between the O2 flow rate and improvements in the constant work rate test, showing greater improvements in favor of the Oxymizer in patients with a higher demand for O2 (≥ 4 liters/min). CONCLUSION: We show that O2 delivery via the Oxymizer is superior to a CNC with regard to endurance capacity and oxygenation during exercise in patients with severe COPD. It seems that patients with a higher demand for O2 (≥ 4 liters/min), in particular, may benefit more from the use of the Oxymizer.