EFFECTS OF A PHYSICAL EXERCISE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM WITH DIFFERENT SUPERVISION FREQUENCIES IN INDIVIDUALS WITH COPD: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

• Grant number: 24/22526-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Amorim Pires Di Lorenzo
• Grantee: Lívia Maria Petilli Zopelari Luchetti
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/00875-1 - Effects of a physical training program associated with behavior change strategies on motivation for physical exercise in individuals with COPD: a randomized clinical trial, AP.R

Abstract

Introduction: The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well established in the literature; however, they progressively decrease after its completion. Therefore, supervised maintenance programs are being encouraged as a strategy to preserve the gains obtained with PR. However, due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the ideal frequency of these programs has not yet been established. Objective: To compare the effects of a physical exercise maintenance program with different frequencies of supervision over a period of three months and at the end of six months of follow-up, on exercise capacity and dyspnea, as well as on quality of life, level of physical activity, exacerbation and hospitalization in patients with COPD. And to verify whether there is an association between motivation for physical exercise and the perception of the environment before the maintenance program with exercise capacity and level of physical activity after the program for both groups. Methods: This is a randomized clinical trial in which participants who have completed 12 weeks of a physical training program with resistance and aerobic exercise will be recruited. Participants will undergo a two-day in-person assessment using scales, questionnaires, and physical tests: Modified Medical Research Council; St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire; Behavioral Regulation in Exercise-3; Environmental Perception Scale; Six-Minute Walk Test; One-Minute Sit-to-Stand Test; Six-Minute Step Test; and use of an accelerometer (ActivPAL3). Those who meet the inclusion criteria will be randomized into two groups: intervention group (weekly maintenance program) and control group (monthly maintenance program). Participants will be reassessed after the end of the three months and at a follow-up three months after the reassessment. Data will be analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, and a significance level of p ¿ 0.05 will be adopted. Expected results: It is expected that the group that performs the weekly supervised physical exercise maintenance program will be able to maintain the results obtained in the previous physical training program over three months and at the end of six months of follow-up, when compared to the monthly maintenance group. And also that the motivation for physical exercise and the perception of the environment will be able to influence the results of exercise capacity and physical activity level after the program for both groups.