Effect of eight weeks of exercise training on lung function in patients with pulmonary fibrosis

Aim. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of eight weeks of exercise training on lung function in PF patients. Material and Methods. Forty eight patients diagnosed with PF were participated in our training program which mainly consisted of a 8-week exercise training program. Pulmonary function tests, 6MWD, dyspnoea were evaluated at baseline and after the program. Our exercise training program involved thoracic expansion exercises, pursed-lips breathing, upper and lower extremity exercises combined with breathing control; exercises also included arm raising and knee extensions, diaphragmatic breathing exercises, and a walking program (15-30 min/day). Results. Our study showed that the 8-week-long exercise training program performed in PF patients significantly improved pulmonary function tests, 6MWD, and reduced dyspnea severity during daily life activities. Significant increase was showed in the exercise capacity of our patients after the exercise training program. Conclusions. The exercise training program may be beneficial to improve functional capacity of patients with PF by decreasing dyspnea and increasing exercise capacity. Thus, we recommend that exercise training programs, which are tailored to the individual needs of patients with PF, should be included in the treatment plan. Nevertheless, further studies, featuring larger patient and control groups, are needed to confirm the effectiveness of exercise training in PF patients.