Rationale:

Chronic pulmonary disease is an important cause of disability and handicap. One goal of pulmonary rehab (PR) is to improve activity tolerance with exercise training.

Objective:

Describe improvements in 6 minute walk distance, functional strength, and flexibility measurements in [male sign] and [female sign] completing a PR program.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis was designed to identify improvements in 6 minute walk distance, functional strength, and flexibility in participants completing PR. Eighty-one individuals (mean age 67.71 +/- 10.75) completed PR between 1/03 and 1/05; 70 had complete pre and post data. PR consisted of 24 exercise sessions including cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility training. Pre and post parameters measured included 6 minute walk distance (distance), functional strength measuring chair sit and stand in 30 seconds (strlb), and a bilateral flexibility test using seated sit and reach (flexr and flexl). The Student's t test was used to evaluate for between gender differences and the paired t test was used to identify significant changes between pre and post values within each gender.

Results:

There were no difference in the above parameters between [male sign] and [female sign] pre and post PR.

Conclusion:

An 8 week outpatient PR program can result in significant improvements in distance walked, functional strength, and flexibility in both [male sign] and [female sign].