Chest
Volume 122, Issue 1, July 2002, Pages 56-65
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Clinical Investigations
Copd
The Short-term Effect of a Rollator on Functional Exercise Capacity Among Individuals With Severe COPD

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.122.1.56Get rights and content

Study objectives

This study was conducted to examine the short-term effects of using a rollator on functional exercise capacity among individuals with COPD and to characterize which individuals benefit most from its use.

Design

Repeated-measures randomized crossover design using the 6-min walk test (6MWT) as the primary outcome measure.

Setting

Respiratory rehabilitation center.

Patients

Forty stable subjects who had received a diagnosis of COPD.

Interventions

Two 6MWTs were performed on each study day. One 6MWT was performed unaided, and the other was performed with a rollator. The order was randomized on the first day and reversed on the second day.

Results

Use of the rollator was associated with a significant reduction in dyspnea (p < 0.001) and duration of rest (reduction for the total group, 19 s; and reduction for those who walked < 300 m unaided, 40 s; p = 0.001) during the 6MWT. For subjects who walked < 300 m unaided, there was also a significant improvement in distance walked (p = 0.02). No changes were found for the measures of cardiorespiratory function or gait (p > 0.05). The requirement to rest during an unaided 6MWT was a significant predictor of improved functional exercise capacity with the use of the rollator (p < 0.005). The majority of subjects whose unaided 6MWT distance was < 300 m preferred using the rollator to walking unaided.

Conclusions

Use of a rollator was effective in improving functional exercise capacity by reducing dyspnea and rest duration among stable individuals with severe COPD. Individuals who walked < 300 m and individuals who required a rest during an unaided 6MWT benefited the most from using a rollator in terms of reduced dyspnea, reduced rest time, and improved distance walked.

Section snippets

Subjects

We recruited subjects who were enrolled in the respiratory rehabilitation program at West Park Healthcare Center (Toronto, ON, Canada). Subjects were considered eligible for the study if they had received a diagnosis of COPD,15 were clinically stable (ie, had no evidence of acute exacerbation and had experienced no change in medication or bronchodilator use in the previous 4 weeks), were between 55 and 85 years of age, and were unaccustomed to the use of a walking aid. Exclusion criteria

Results

Results are expressed as the mean of measurements taken on the two study days. No significant difference for study day was observed for any of the outcomes of interest.

Discussion

We have extended the observations reported on the use of wheeled walking aids in patients with COPD410111213 to include a larger sample size, standardized walking tests, and measures of weight transferred to the rollator. We also evaluated the characteristics that are most likely to be associated with an improvement in functional exercise capacity among a homogeneous population of patients with severe disease. Use of a rollator reduced dyspnea and rest time during walking among stable subjects

Conclusion

The use of a rollator reduced dyspnea and rest duration in stable patients with severe COPD. Those who walked < 300 m unaided or required a rest during the 6MWT benefited the most from use of the rollator, as in this group walking distance also increased. The improvement was not associated with alterations in cardiorespiratory function or gait. The effect of rollator height and its influence on respiratory muscle function, as well as the long-term effects of rollator use on functional exercise

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors thank Drs. Cheryl Cott and Scott Thomas for their constructive comments in the planning and execution of the study, David I. Wang for his assistance with data analysis, Donna Clow for her help with subject recruitment, Therapists Choice Medical Supplies for provision of the rollator, and the individuals who participated in the study, for their time, kindness, and genuine desire to help others.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Support was received from Glaxo Wellcome (unrestricted educational grant), the Clinical Evaluation and Research Unit of the West Park Healthcare Centre, and the West Park Foundation. Sherra Solway was supported by the Ontario Respiratory Care Society and the Canadian Physiotherapy Cardiorespiratory Society through fellowship awards.

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