Physical Activity Versus Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD

The 12 week home-based pedometer-driven walking programme will consist of weekly physical activity consultations. Pedometers will be used to set weekly step goals and motivate patients. Patients will wear the pedometer for 7 days and will record their daily steps in a step diary. At the next appointment the step target for the subsequent week will be agreed between the physiotherapist/researcher and participant. Each week thereafter the physiotherapist/researcher and patient will discuss their progress, document their mean daily step count for the previous week, and agree to a new daily step target for the subsequent week. The walking programme will be tailored to the individual and progressed on a weekly basis.

This will be a 6-week supervised outpatient programme. The exercise component will last for one hour and be delivered twice weekly. It will consist of cardiovascular exercises and lower and upper body strengthening exercises. Education sessions will be delivered once weekly. Each patient will be provided with a home exercise programme to complete unsupervised once weekly.