PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Tessa Schneeberger AU - Rainer Gloeckl AU - Inga Jarosch AU - Selina Adler AU - Andreas Jerrentrup AU - Klaus Kenn TI - Comparison of 2 different modalities to determine training intensity in moderate intensity continuous (MIC) and high intensity interval (HIT) treadmill walking in patients with severe COPD - A pilot feasibility study AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2016.PA536 DP - 2016 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA536 VI - 48 IP - suppl 60 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA536.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/48/suppl_60/PA536.full SO - Eur Respir J2016 Sep 01; 48 AB - Background Most endurance training programs rely on continuous or interval cycling.Objective Aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of these training modalities during treadmill walking.Methods 42 COPD patients (FEV1: 37±14% pred.) were enrolled in this prospective, randomized 4-arm study. Patients were randomized to one of four treadmill walking programs (à 15 sessions). Training modalities consisted of 2 constant walking speed groups (MIC group walking speed [WS]: 60% from mean baseline 6-minute walking test [6MWT] speed/ HIT group WS: 120% from mean 6MWT speed for 1 min alternating with 1 min of rest) and 2 symptom orientated groups (MIC-Borg group [BG]/ HIT-BG) where WS was adjusted to dyspnea scores of 4-6 on a 10 point Borg scale (BS). Total walking time was increased from 10 up to 32 minutes in all groups. Dyspnea, leg fatigue, heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded during each session.Results Levels of dyspnea (BS: MIC: 4.3±1.4 vs. MIC-BG: 4.1±1.1, p=n.s. and HIT: 3.6±1.0 vs. HIT-BG: 3.7±0.9, p=n.s.) and leg fatigue (BS: MIC: 2.6±1.7 vs. MIC-BG: 3.2±1.2, p=n.s. and HIT: 2.5±1.4 vs. HIT-BG: 1.7±1.0 p=n.s.) were comparable during exercise. Also mean SpO2 and HR were comparable. MIC-BG had markedly, but not significantly less unintended breaks (n) during training than MIC group (0.8±2 vs. 13±20) and trained at a higher walking speed (p=0.02) than predicted. In all groups no adverse events were observed.Conclusion It seems that all 4 treadmill-based walking training modalities are feasible and safe for patients with severe COPD.