Exercise training is an important component of the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and numerous trials have shown large improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and exercise capacity in persons with COPD. However, the great majority of patients who would benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) never follow such a program. Moreover, many COPD patients are either not instructed to exercise at all or fail to adhere to exercise training at home after completing pulmonary rehabilitation.~This study evaluates an exercise training program that requires minimal equipment (i.e., only a chair and elastic bands) and can be easily implemented long-term in the patient's home-setting.
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a home-based exercise training program in COPD patients who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation.