Balance Training in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Educational interventions, 3 individual sessions of 10-20 minutes and 1 weekly group meeting of 45-60 minutes on nutrition and on the emotional management of the disease. Supervised and incremental aerobic training, lasting at least 30 minutes, 5/6 days a week for a total of 12-14 sessions. The initial workload will be set between 50-70% of the maximum load (watts) determined starting from the 6MWT using the Hill equation and will be increased to reach a perception of moderate-intense fatigue and/or dyspnea. Supervised strength training of the lower limbs and upper limbs, lasting 30 minutes, 5/6 times a week for a total of 12-14 sessions. The workload will be calibrated to allow the execution of 12 consecutive repetitions and will be progressively increased by 0.5 kg in order to cause a moderate/intense fatigue and/or dyspnea. Group exercises aimed at improving flexibility of the trunk, lower and upper limbs, lasting at least 30 minutes, 5/6 days a week, for a total of 12-14 sessions.

Educational interventions, 3 individual sessions of 10-20 minutes and 1 weekly group meeting of 45-60 minutes on nutrition and on the emotional management of the disease. Supervised and incremental aerobic training, lasting at least 30 minutes, 5/6 days a week for a total of 12-14 sessions. The initial workload will be set between 50-70% of the maximum load determined from the 6MWT (Hill equation) and will be increased based on dyspnea. Supervised strength training of the lower limbs and upper limbs, lasting 30 minutes, 5/6 times a week for a total of 12-14 sessions. The workload will be progressively increased. Supervised balance training sessions lasting 30 minutes, 5/6 times a week for a total of 12-14 sessions. The sequence of the exercises will be personalized according to the result of the Berg Balance Scale and modified according to the progress.