Examining the Effectiveness of Single-Limb Exercise Training for COPD Patients During Exacerbation Periods

Resistance exercise applications during acute exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are employed to enhance functional capacity and prevent muscle atrophy by increasing muscle strength. Owing to the limited cardiorespiratory reserve of COPD patients, single-limb exercises are better tolerated compared to traditional bilateral exercises. A study conducted by Vogiatzis et al. (2009) indicated that single-leg exercises require lower ventilation and result in more efficient oxygen consumption than bilateral exercises. This physiological advantage may be effective in reducing muscle weakness by increasing exercise endurance in COPD patients with restricted respiratory capacity. The present study aims to demonstrate that single-limb resistance exercise is an effective rehabilitation method for increasing functional exercise capacity in patients during COPD exacerbations compared to a control group. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of single-limb resistance exercises on dyspnea perception, fatigue, anxiety, and depression will be established. The study will also show that these exercises are both feasible and safe within rehabilitation protocols during the exacerbation period.

Inclusion Criteria: Hospital admission due to an acute COPD exacerbation. Not currently enrolled in an active pulmonary rehabilitation program. Absence of any additional neurological disorders. Exclusion Criteria: Heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III or IV. Unstable mental status (indicated by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 24). History of major surgery within the last three months. Presence of malignancies.