Chest
Clinical InvestigationsCopdThe Short-term Effect of a Rollator on Functional Exercise Capacity Among Individuals With Severe COPD
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.