Exercise Training in Severe COPD

"The workout will start with a workload of 50% of the theoretical maximum Watts indirectly assessed by the 6-Minutes Walking Test (6MWT) with equation of Luxton et al. Each training session will begin with three minutes of warm-up and cool-down with a low load.~At the end of each session, the physiotherapist will administer the Borg Scale (i.e. for dyspnea and muscle fatigue) and detect the oxygen saturation. The sessions will be conducted at constant load for 25 minutes and increase following the Maltais protocol (the workload increase in the next session will be 10 W, if dyspnea and muscle fatigue, evaluated at the Borg Scale, were each \< 5 ).~The patients will perform a supervised 20-min light warm-up gym exercise before the endurance training session. The training will be carried out with the oxygen level necessary to maintain the saturation level ≥ 91%."