Characteristics of included trials
| First author [Ref.] | Country | Intervention group 1 | Intervention group 2 | Subjects n | Age yrs | Males % | Mean FEV1 | Baseline 6MWD |
| Puhan 11 | Switzerland | Respiratory rehabilitation (continuous exercise) | Respiratory rehabilitation (interval exercise) | 98 | 68.9±9.1 | 67 | 34.3±8.4 | 323±109 |
| Goldstein 21 | Canada | Respiratory rehabilitation | Usual care | 89 | 66.0±7.2 | 49 | 34.7±13.2 | 366±99 |
| Puhan 20 | Switzerland | Respiratory rehabilitation | 71 | 67.5±8.4 | 66 | 45.1±15.4 | 360±122 | |
| Mador 22 | USA | Respiratory rehabilitation | 24 | 69.9±9.5 | 92 | 44.3±17.1 | 326±105 | |
| Mador 19 | USA | Respiratory rehabilitation (endurance exercise) | Respiratory rehabilitation (strength exercise) | 28 | 71.1±6.1 | 100 | 42.0±14.7 | 378±119 |
| Mador 18 | USA | Respiratory rehabilitation (endurance and hyperpnea) | Respiratory rehabilitation (endurance exercise) | 29 | 70.3±7.4 | 100 | 44.8±16.6 | 435±98 |
| Krauza 23 | USA | Respiratory rehabilitation (interval exercise) | Respiratory rehabilitation (continuous exercise) | 41 | 71.1±7.6 | 98 | 43.1±13.1 | 431±104 |
| Mador, unpublished results | USA | Respiratory rehabilitation (endurance and upper arm exercise) | Respiratory rehabilitation (endurance exercise) | 17 | 73.9±7.0 | 100 | 36.7±13.6 | 383±79 |
| Schünemann 33 | Canada | Respiratory rehabilitation | 63 | 69.8±8.3 | 54 | 38.9±14.5 | 334±104 | |
| All | 460 | 68.9±8.3 | 71 | 39.2±14.1 | 361±112 |
Data are presented as mean±sd, unless otherwise stated. FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second; 6MWD: 6-min walk distance.