Article

Balance impairment is recognized as an important issue for patients with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to
examine the effect of balance training as part of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR)
on balance in COPD patients. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to an
intervention or usual care group. The intervention group underwent balance
training 3 times a week for 6 months in addition to the standard PR. The control
group received 6 months of the standard PR program only. Balance was assessed by
the Timed Up and Go (TUG), Tinetti, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Unipodal
Stance (UST) tests. Balance confidence was rated using the ABC scale. Exercise
tolerance was determined using a 6-Minute Walk Test. RESULTS: Following the
completion of PR, the intervention group showed improvement in all balance
measures. Only TUG, ABC, and UST scores were improved in the usual care group (P
< .05). Results demonstrated significant between-group differences in TUG,
Tinetti, BBS, and ABC scores (P < .01) and UST score (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS:
Balance training incorporated into a standard PR program significantly improves
scores on balance tests in COPD patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS